Tissue prosthesis processing technology

• US 7,415,861 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2005
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Machine Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Machine Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Sokel, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Crane; Daniel C
• Application Number:
  US11/155,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20060004469A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,167 Days
• Field of Search: 724/02, 292/37, 292/82, 292/835
• US Class Current: 72/402
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9524 Iris-type crimpers
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 11/00 Connecting or disconnecting metal parts or objects by metal-working techniques not otherwise provided for connecting sheet metal or metal tubes, rods or profiles B21D39/00; riveting B21J; soldering, unsoldering, welding B23K; hand tools for connecting wire or strip B25B25/00; connecting metal parts by adhesives F16B11/00
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/10 inserting fittings into hoses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49913 by constricting outer annulus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49925 Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49927 Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49934 by axially applying force
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49998 Work holding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53961 with work-holder for assembly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53996 by deforming

Abstract

A heart valve prostheses crimping apparatus and method for deducing the diameter of stents containing heart valve prosthesis. A medical prosthesis catheter loading apparatus, including a crimping assembly for reducing the diameter of a prosthesis; and a catheter clamp for holding a catheter adjacent to the prosthesis. Also disclosed is an apparatus for reducing the diameter of a medical prosthesis, including a base, a crimp head connectable to the base, and an actuation mechanism connected to the base and connectable to the crimp head to actuate the crimp head. Also disclosed is a method of loading a medical prosthesis into a catheter, including the steps of reducing the diameter of a prosthesis from its normal deployed state to a diameter less than that of the lumen of the catheter; holding a catheter adjacent to the reduced diameter prosthesis; and moving the prosthesis into the catheter lumen.

Claims

1. A medical prosthesis catheter loading apparatus, comprising:

a. a crimping assembly for reducing the diameter of a prosthesis, the crimping assembly comprises a base, a crimp head connectable to the base, and an actuation mechanism connected to the base and connectable to the crimp head to actuate the crimp head, wherein the base comprises a pair of crimp head retaining members, the retaining members being constructed of a sterilizable material, crimp elements, and having a crimp head element guide with at least two concentric arrangements of linear grooves; and

b. a catheter clamp for holding a catheter adjacent to the prosthesis.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crimp head comprises a plurality of crimp elements arranged about a central crimp aperture.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the elements linearly move to vary the size of the central crimp aperture.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein each crimp element has a distal end disposed near the central aperture and a proximal end disposed away from the central aperture, each element further having a distal rectilinear slide block, a proximal rectilinear slide block, and at least one flat actuation surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the head is readily disposable.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an element loader for configuring the crimp elements.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises a rotatable activation ring communicatively connected to the crimp elements to move them linearly toward the central crimp aperture.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the activation ring is communicatively connected to the crimp elements via element contacting rollers.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the activation ring is communicatively connected to the crimp elements via element contacting pins.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises a screw connected to the activation ring via a lever arrangement.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the actuation mechanism further comprises an arm connected to the activation ring via a gear arrangement.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the catheter clamp comprises a pair of blocks, each having slot for engaging a portion of a catheter, and a clamp for holding the blocks together, the blocks and clamp being constructed of a sterilizable material.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein at least one block has a face for connecting to the crimping assembly.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a submersion tank for holding a predetermined amount of a medical solution and adapted for enclosing at least a portion of the crimping assembly and the catheter clamp.