Clamshell iris-style crimper for medical devices
AssigneeMedtronic, Inc.
InventorBrian Castelli
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crimper includes a top iris shell defining a top iris channel. The crimper also includes a base iris shell coupled to the top iris shell at a pivot connection, the base iris shell defining a base iris channel. The top iris shell is configured to rotate about the pivot connection relative to the base shell from an open state to a closed state. When in the open state, the base iris channel is exposed for loading the expandable medical device. When in the closed state, the top iris channel and the base iris channel define a crimper chamber. The crimper also includes a handle configured to operate the clamshell crimper. The actuation of the handle decreases a volume of the crimper chamber to transition the expandable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.
Claims18
A method for altering an expandable medical device from an uncompressed state to a compressed state, the method comprising:
- placing a clamshell crimper in an open state, the clamshell crimper comprising a top iris shell and a base iris shell connected by a pivot connection, wherein, when in the open state, a base iris channel of the base iris shell is exposed for loading the expandable medical device, wherein the top iris shell comprises a first portion of a first actuator ring, a first portion of a second actuator ring, and a first plurality of lobes moveably coupled between the first portion of the first actuator ring and the first portion of the second actuator ring, wherein the first plurality of lobes defines the top iris channel;
- loading the expandable medical device into the base iris channel of the base iris shell;
- transitioning the crimper from the open state to a closed state, wherein, when in the closed state, a top iris channel of the top iris shell and the base iris channel of the base iris shell define a crimper chamber;
- and
- actuating a handle of the clamshell crimper, wherein the actuation of the handle decreases a volume of the crimper chamber to transition the expandable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.
A method for altering an expandable medical device from an uncompressed state to a compressed state, the method comprising:
- placing a clamshell crimper in an open state, the clamshell crimper comprising a handle, a top shell comprising a first plurality of lobes, and a base shell comprising a second plurality of lobes, the first plurality of lobes defining a top channel and the second plurality of lobes defining a bottom channel, wherein the top shell and the base shell are coupled at a pivot connection, wherein one or more actuator rings are coupled to the handle, the first plurality of lobes, and the second plurality of lobes, wherein, when in the open state, the bottom channel is exposed for loading the expandable medical device;
- loading the expandable medical device into the bottom channel;
- transitioning the crimper from the open state to a closed state, wherein, when in the closed state, the top channel and the bottom channel define a crimper chamber;
- and
- actuating the handle of the clamshell crimper, wherein the actuation of the handle rotates the one or more actuator rings thereby displacing the first plurality of lobes and the second plurality of lobes, and the displacement of the first plurality of lobes and the second plurality of lobes decreases a volume of the crimper chamber to transition the expandable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.