RADIAL STENT CRIMPER

• US 20030056360A1
• Filed: 09/22/1999
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: HANSON, SCOTT M., DUSBABEK, ANDREW J., LARSON, CHRISTOPHER R., KLISCH, LEO M., BROWN, TERRY V., ELLIS, LOUIS G., ULANOWSKI, LAWRENCE W., PLESSAL, JUSTIN E., LORENTZEN CORNELIUS, LINDA R.
• Granted Patent: US 6,769,161 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/516
• 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: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49927 Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53652 Tube and coextensive core
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53987 Tube, sleeve or ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53996 by deforming

Abstract

A stent crimper comprising a plurality of crimping members extending between a first support and a second support. The first and optionally the second supports has an opening therethrough sized to allow a stent therethrough. The first and second supports extend from a base. The crimping members are disposed about the circumference of a circle everywhere along the length of the members. Finally, the flexible members extend through a bore in a die. The die is movable in an axial direction along the flexible members.

Claims

1. A stent crimper comprising:

a) an outer tube

the outer tube having an interior surface and an exterior surface,

the outer tube characterized by an outer tube inner diameter; and

b) an inner tube

the inner tube characterized by an inner tube outer diameter and an inner tube inner diameter,

the inner tube having

an interior surface and an exterior surface,

a first end and a slotted second end,

the slotted second end comprising a plurality of flexible axially oriented fingers along the tube with slots extending between the fingers, the slotted second end operable from a closed configuration to an open configuration in which the fmgers flare outward,

at least a portion of the inner tube residing within the outer tube and movingly engaged thereto.

2. The stent crimper of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the outer tube and the outer diameter of the inner tube are chosen such that the exterior surface of the inner tube may frictionally engage the interior surface of the outer tube.

3. The stent crimper of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of the outer tube is greater than the outer diameter of the inner tube so that the exterior surface of the inner tube does not frictionally engage the interior surface of the outer tube and the inner tube and the outer tube are movably secured to one another.

4. The stent crimper of claim 1 comprising at least four fingers.

5. A method of crimping a stent comprising the steps:

of providing a stent crimper as in claim 1, the fingers in the open configuration;

providing a stent;

placing the stent in the slotted second end; and

sliding the outer tube over the slotted second end of the inner tube.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the stent is disposed about a catheter.

7. A stent crimper comprising:

a) a first support having an opening therethrough, the opening sized to allow a stent therethrough;

b) a second support, optionally having an opening therethrough;

c) a base,

the first and second supports extending from the base;

d) a plurality of flexible members,

each member having a first end and a second end,

the members extending between the first support and the second support,

each first end attached to the first support,

each second end attached to the second support,

the members disposed about the circumference of a circle everywhere along the length of the members;

e) a die having a bore therethrough, the flexible members extending through the bore in the die, the die movable in an axial direction along the flexible members.

8. The stent crimper of claim 7 wherein the members are arranged to define a frustoconical shape.

9. The stent of claim 7 wherein the members are arranged to define a substantially cylindrical shape.

10. The stent crimper of claim 7 wherein the flexible members are made of wire.

11. The stent crimper of claim 10 comprising 12 wires.

12. The stent crimper of claim 7 wherein the flexible members have a textured surface.

13. The stent crimper of claim 7 wherein the flexible members have a coating applied thereto to increase the surface roughness of the members or the lubricity of the members.

14. The stent crimper of claim 7 wherein the second support has an opening therethrough.

15. A method of crimping a stent comprising the steps of:

providing a stent;

providing a tube of an initial diameter, the tube constructed and arranged to deform upon the application of pressure thereto;

disposing the stent in the tube; and

applying a pressure to the outside of the tube sufficient to deform the tube inward and apply a crimping force to the stent.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the tube is in a pressure chamber.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the stent is disposed about a catheter.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the tube is made of an elastomeric material.

19. A method of crimping a stent to a stent delivery catheter comprising the steps of:

providing a stent disposed about an inflatable medical balloon mounted on a catheter;

placing the stent and catheter on a first flat surface;

placing a second flat surface on top of the stent and catheter, the second flat surface disposed at an oblique angle relative to the first flat surface;

applying a downward pressure to the second flat surface while moving at least one of the first and second flat surfaces relative to the other to effect a rolling motion of the stent.