Mounting stents on stent delivery systems
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus, comprising:
- a crimper head having jaws and a non-stick material arranged for being placed between the jaws and a stent received within the crimper head;
a first station and a second station disposed adjacent the crimper head and configured to receive, respectively, a first stent and a first balloon catheter assembly and a second stent and a second balloon catheter assembly;
the first station and the second station each include an aligning portion and a positioning portion; and
a processor for simultaneously crimping both the first stent to the first balloon catheter and the second stent to the second balloon catheter using the crimper head,whereupon receiving a user command, the processor causes(a) the first station to align the first stent with the first balloon catheter and the second station to align the second stent with the second balloon catheter using the respective first and second station aligning portions,(b) the first station to insert the first stent and first balloon catheter into the crimper head and the second station to insert the second stent and second balloon catheter into the crimper head using the respective first and second station positioning portions, and(c) the crimper head to perform a crimping sequence for crimping both the first stent to the first balloon catheter and the second stent to the second balloon catheter.
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Abstract
A system for mounting a stent on a balloon catheter includes two positioning and alignment stations, which are used to prepare a stent and catheter for crimping using the same crimping head. The system is configured for automated assembly of the stent and catheter prior to crimping. A catheter and stent are placed on a computer-controlled carriage that delivers the stent and catheter to the crimper head. Before placing the stent and catheter into the crimper head, an automated alignment system locates the stent between balloon markers.
65 Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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a crimper head having jaws and a non-stick material arranged for being placed between the jaws and a stent received within the crimper head; a first station and a second station disposed adjacent the crimper head and configured to receive, respectively, a first stent and a first balloon catheter assembly and a second stent and a second balloon catheter assembly; the first station and the second station each include an aligning portion and a positioning portion; and a processor for simultaneously crimping both the first stent to the first balloon catheter and the second stent to the second balloon catheter using the crimper head, whereupon receiving a user command, the processor causes (a) the first station to align the first stent with the first balloon catheter and the second station to align the second stent with the second balloon catheter using the respective first and second station aligning portions, (b) the first station to insert the first stent and first balloon catheter into the crimper head and the second station to insert the second stent and second balloon catheter into the crimper head using the respective first and second station positioning portions, and (c) the crimper head to perform a crimping sequence for crimping both the first stent to the first balloon catheter and the second stent to the second balloon catheter. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for crimping a stent to a balloon of a balloon catheter, the balloon having balloon markers identifying a proper alignment of the stent with the balloon, comprising:
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preparing the balloon catheter for crimping including placing the catheter on a movable carriage; verifying that the stent is aligned with the balloon including collecting at least one image of the stent and balloon and then analyzing the image to verify that the stent is between the balloon markers; after the verifying step, inserting the stent and balloon into a crimper; and crimping the stent to the balloon including a first crimping step and a second crimping step, the first crimping step including reducing the diameter of the stent to a diameter greater than a fully crimped diameter, removing the stent and balloon from the crimper head, then repeating the verifying step including collecting at least one additional image and analyzing the image to verify that the stent is between the balloon markers and if the stent is not between the balloon markers, longitudinally shifting the stent on the balloon to place the stent between the balloon markers, and after repeating the verifying step, re-inserting the stent and balloon into the crimper head and performing the second crimping step. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 17, 20, 21)
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16. A method for crimping a stent to a balloon to a balloon catheter, the balloon having balloon markers identifying a proper alignment of the stent with the balloon, comprising:
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preparing the balloon catheter for crimping including placing the catheter on a movable carriage, then moving one of the catheter and the stent relative to the other using an actuator-controlled mechanism to position the stent on the catheter; verifying that the stent is aligned with the balloon including collecting at least one image of the stent and balloon and then analyzing the image to verify that the stent is between the balloon markers; after the verifying step, inserting the stent and balloon into a crimper; and crimping the stent to the balloon, including a first crimping of the stent to reduce the stent diameter to a first diameter, repeating the verifying step after the first crimping, and after the verifying step, a second crimping to reduce the stent diameter to a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is less than the first diameter. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification