# US 10,245,145 B2 · Method and apparatus for compressing/loading stent-valves

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- Number: US 10,245,145 B2
- Document ID: US10245145B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/022,525
- Filed: 2014-09-16
- Published: 2016-08-11
- Granted: 2019-04-02
- Earliest claimed: 2013-09-16
- Assignees: Symetis SA
- Applicants: Symetis SA
- Inventors: Luc Mantanus; Fabien Lombardi; Pierre Simonin; Youssef Biadillah; Jean-Luc Hefti; Stéphane Delaloye
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245145B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/2436: {Deployment by retracting a sheath}
- A61F 2/2418: {Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents}
- A61F 2/9522: {Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument}
- A61F 2/97: the outer sleeve being splittable
- A61F 2220/0008: Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
- A61F 2230/0054: V-shaped
- A61F 2250/0018: differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
- A61F 2250/0091: transparent or translucent
- A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C)

## Abstract

Apparatus (40) for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve (10) comprises: a first compressor stage (100) including a hollow channel (42) with a tapered interior surface configured for compressing a stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent-valve within the channel; and a second compressor stage (102) comprising a crimper for compressing a portion of the stent-valve without longitudinal advancement.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus configured to compress a cardiac stent-valve for loading into a delivery catheter, the apparatus comprising:
a first compressor stage for compressing the stent-valve,
wherein the first compressor stage comprises a hollow channel, and the first compressor stage is configured for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to, or in association with, longitudinal advancement of an advancing member against the stent-valve within the hollow channel; and
a second compressor stage coupled or couplable to the first compressor stage and configured to further compress a portion of the stent-valve after passing through the first compressor stage,
wherein the second compressor stage comprises a crimper having jaws defining a chuck.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is configured to compress a portion of the stent-valve at the second compressor stage without advancement of the stent-valve within the second compressor stage.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is releasably coupled at, or to be at, an exit of the first compressor stage.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the crimper comprises a plurality of movable elements.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second compressor stages are operated by respective rotary actuators that are rotatable about a common axis, optionally a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second compressor stage is releasably securable to the first compressor stage using a screw threaded actuator for actuating the second compressor stage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first compressor stage comprises one or more of (i) a mover for applying to a stent-valve within the hollow channel, a pushing force from radially outside the hollow channel; and/or (ii) a driver for applying a pushing force radially outside the hollow channel to a portion of the mover radially outside the hollow channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the mover comprises a ring from which plural limbs project inwardly, the limbs sliding in slots through a wall of the channel, for applying a pushing force to a stent-valve within the channel.