Device and method for compressing and loading a stent

A device for radially compressing a stent, comprising:

• a housing including a central opening;
• and
• a first iris positioned adjacent the housing;
• wherein the first iris includes a first circumferential ring positioned coaxially relative to the central opening of the housing and a first plurality of arms extending radially inward from the first circumferential ring;
• wherein the first plurality of arms is monolithically formed with the first circumferential ring from a single piece of material;
• wherein the first plurality of arms defines a first central opening positioned coaxially relative to the central opening of the housing;
• wherein the first plurality of arms is configured to shift between a first configuration and a second configuration via rotation of the first circumferential ring relative to the housing.

A method of radially compressing a stent, comprising:

• inserting a stent in a first configuration into a first iris, wherein the first iris includes a first circumferential ring and a first plurality of arms extending radially inward from the first circumferential ring to define a first central opening, wherein the first plurality of arms is monolithically formed with the first circumferential ring from a single piece of material;
• and
• rotating the first circumferential ring relative to a housing disposed about the first circumferential ring to shift the first plurality of arms from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the first central opening has a first size in the first configuration and a second size in the second configuration less than the first size;
• wherein in the second configuration of the first plurality of arms, a first portion of the stent disposed within the first iris is in a radially compressed configuration.