Method and apparatus for compressing/loading stent-valves
First Claim
1. An apparatus for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve, the apparatus comprising:
- a hollow channel having an interior surface shaped for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent within the hollow channel, the hollow channel comprising at least one slot through a wall thereof; and
a mover comprising a portion fitting outside the circumferential periphery of the hollow channel and a portion slidable in the slot and projecting therethrough for engaging the stent-valve within the hollow channel, for applying to the stent-valve a longitudinal driving force from outside the hollow channel;
wherein the portion of the mover slidable in the slot is shaped as a blade having a thin leading edge or surface that advances within the slot, and a long edge or surface that slides against the edge of the slot.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus (40) for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve (10) comprises: a hollow channel (42) having an interior surface (50) shaped for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent-valve within the channel; a driver (46) threadedly engaged on the exterior of the channel for generating a longitudinal driving force in response to rotation; a mover (44) having limbs (56) that project through slots (58) in the channel wall to transmit the driving force to the stent-valve within the channel; and a channel extension (48) removably attachable at the exit (54) to provide a generally cylindrical containment bore (66).
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a hollow channel having an interior surface shaped for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent within the hollow channel, the hollow channel comprising at least one slot through a wall thereof; and a mover comprising a portion fitting outside the circumferential periphery of the hollow channel and a portion slidable in the slot and projecting therethrough for engaging the stent-valve within the hollow channel, for applying to the stent-valve a longitudinal driving force from outside the hollow channel; wherein the portion of the mover slidable in the slot is shaped as a blade having a thin leading edge or surface that advances within the slot, and a long edge or surface that slides against the edge of the slot. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a hollow channel having an interior surface shaped for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent within the hollow channel, the hollow channel comprising at least one slot through a wall thereof; a mover comprising a portion fitting outside the circumferential periphery of the hollow channel and a portion slidable in the slot and projecting therethrough for engaging the stent-valve within the hollow channel, for applying to the stent-valve a longitudinal driving force from outside the hollow channel; and a driver coupled by a screw thread to the exterior of the hollow channel, for generating the longitudinal driving force in response to rotation of the driver. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification