Methods for stent shaping
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorHarvey H. Chen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus for crimping a radially expandable stent includes a pressure vessel, shaping balloon, and mandrel. The mandrel is configured to slidingly receive a stent thereon, and to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel. The shaping balloon is inflated to radially compress the stent onto the form of the mandrel; such compression need not be uniform. Pressurization of the shaping balloon facilitates the expansion of the balloon to achieve compression of the stent, with depressurization of the shaping balloon causing the balloon to return to an unexpanded state.
Claims20
A method of shaping a stent, the method comprising:
- providing a pressure vessel having a shaping balloon having a radially inwardly facing balloon opening;
- providing a mandrel comprising a non-cylindrical stent-receiving portion, wherein the mandrel is sized and configured to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening;
- positioning a stent onto the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel;
- slidingly advancing the mandrel into a pressure vessel lumen to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening;
- inflating the shaping balloon with sufficient pressure to cause the balloon opening to compress the stent against the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel and deform the stent into the non-cylindrical shape of the stent-receiving portion;
- after or during the step of inflating the shaping balloon, exposing the stent to a desired shape-setting temperature;
- after exposing the stent to the desired shape-setting temperature, exposing the stent to a desired reduced temperature that is below the desired shape-setting temperature;
- deflating the shaping balloon;
- withdrawing the mandrel from the pressure vessel;
- and
- removing the stent from the mandrel.
A method of shaping a stent, the method comprising:
- providing a pressure vessel having a shaping balloon formed from a flexible but substantially inelastic material, the balloon having a radially inwardly facing balloon opening, the balloon opening having a pre-determined non-cylindrical shape when the balloon is inflated;
- providing a mandrel comprising a non-cylindrical stent-receiving portion, wherein the mandrel is sized and configured to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening, and wherein the pre-determined shape of the balloon opening of the inflated balloon conforms to the non-cylindrical stent-receiving portion;
- positioning a stent onto the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel;
- slidingly advancing the mandrel into a pressure vessel lumen to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening;
- inflating the shaping balloon with sufficient pressure to cause the balloon opening to compress the stent against the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel and deform the stent into the non-cylindrical shape of the stent-receiving portion;
- deflating the shaping balloon;
- withdrawing the mandrel from the pressure vessel;
- and
- removing the stent from the mandrel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.