Stent crimping device

• US 8,112,857 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2009
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories Limited (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Voelkl, Claus
• Primary Examiner(s): Carter, Monica
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yoon, Seahee
• Application Number:
  US12/356,478
• Publication Number:
  US 20100185207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 269/289.MR, 269/71, 269/45, 292/81, 295/59, 292/43, 295/26, 292/435, 292/38, 292/83, 724/02
• US Class Current: 29/243.5
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/10 inserting fittings into hoses
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49925 Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53709 Overedge assembling means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53991 Work gripper, anvil, or element

Abstract

A system for crimping a prosthesis is disclosed, comprising a plurality of wheels. Each wheel has an outer circumferential surface configured to be placed in contact with the prosthesis. When in contact with the prosthesis, each wheel is configured to be rotated, thereby to apply a radially inward force on the prosthesis so as to reduce the diameter of the prosthesis. More than one set of wheels may be provided, so that the prosthesis is crimped first by one set of wheels, then by a subsequent set of wheels.

Claims

1. A system for crimping a prosthesis comprising:

a plurality of wheels, wherein;

each wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle;

each wheel has an outer circumferential surface configured to apply a radially inward force on the prosthesis;

the wheels are mounted so as to be positionable in relation to each other such that a diameter of each wheel radiates outwardly from a central axis, wherein the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels are positionable equidistant from the axis by a first smallest possible distance to define a first space that includes the axis; and

a first number out of the plurality of wheels are mounted so as to be restrained from further advancing toward the axis, thereby leaving a number of remaining wheels mounted to be capable of further advancing toward the axis, wherein the outer circumferential surfaces of the remaining wheels are positionable equidistant from the axis by a second smallest possible distance to define a second space that includes the axis, the second space being smaller than the first space.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality is nine in number.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first number is three in number.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein all of the axles of the plurality of wheels lie in a single common plane.