Stent crimping apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A method for crimping a stent onto a balloon, comprising:
- inflating a balloon with a fluid to a first pressure value;
sliding a stent at a first diameter over the inflated balloon;
crimping the stent to a second diameter that is less than the first diameter onto the balloon;
after crimping the stent to the second diameter, releasing the pressure from inside the balloon so that the balloon is deflated;
inflating the balloon that is deflated to a second pressure value;
crimping the stent to a third diameter that is less than the second diameter after inflating the balloon to the second pressure value; and
controlling the pressure inside the balloon below the first pressure value when crimping to the second diameter and below the second pressure value when crimping to the third diameter.
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Abstract
A method for crimping a stent onto a balloon includes inflating a balloon with a fluid, sliding a stent over the inflated balloon, crimping the stent onto the balloon, and controlling the pressure inside the balloon below a given value when the stent is being crimped onto the balloon.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for crimping a stent onto a balloon, comprising:
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inflating a balloon with a fluid to a first pressure value; sliding a stent at a first diameter over the inflated balloon; crimping the stent to a second diameter that is less than the first diameter onto the balloon; after crimping the stent to the second diameter, releasing the pressure from inside the balloon so that the balloon is deflated; inflating the balloon that is deflated to a second pressure value; crimping the stent to a third diameter that is less than the second diameter after inflating the balloon to the second pressure value; and controlling the pressure inside the balloon below the first pressure value when crimping to the second diameter and below the second pressure value when crimping to the third diameter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for crimping a stent onto a balloon, comprising:
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sliding a stent at a first diameter over a balloon that is not inflated; placing the stent and balloon that is not inflated in a stent crimper; crimping the stent to a second diameter that is less than the first diameter while the balloon is not inflated; inflating the balloon to a pressure value after crimping the stent to the second diameter; crimping the stent to a third diameter that is less than the second diameter after inflating the balloon; and controlling the pressure inside the balloon below the pressure value when the stent is being crimped onto the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification