Apparatuses for crimping and loading of intraluminal medical devices
AssigneeBoston Scientific Scimed, Inc.
InventorsDaniel Perreault, Mark Edin, Bruce Asmus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Crimping apparatuses for reducing the diameter of an intraluminal medical device from a first diameter to a second diameter prior to loading the medical device into a catheter delivery system and loading apparatuses for introducing the medical device into a catheter delivery system, the devices constructed and arranged for matingly engaging one another, combinations thereof, and methods of using the devices.
Claims21
1-44. (canceled)
A method of crimping a medical device and loading the medical device into an external shaft of a catheter delivery device, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a crimping apparatus, said crimping apparatus having an actuation hub for matingly engaging a loading apparatus;
- b) placing the medical device into the crimping apparatus;
- c) applying a radial inward force while said medical device is in said crimping apparatus such that the diameter of said medical device is reduced from a first diameter to a second diameter;
- d) providing a loading apparatus, said loading apparatus having a plug for matingly engaging said crimping apparatus;
- e) mating said crimping apparatus with said loading apparatus;
- and
- f) transporting said medical device from said crimping apparatus to said loading apparatus.
A method comprising:
- a) providing a crimping apparatus suitable for reducing the size of a medical device, said crimping apparatus defining a first conical portion;
- b) disposing the medical device in the crimping apparatus and reducing the size of the medical device;
- c) providing a loading apparatus suitable for loading the medical device into a restraining sheath, said loading apparatus comprising a second conical portion;
- d) mating said crimping apparatus with said loading apparatus such that the first conical portion abuts the second conical portion;
- and
- e) transporting said medical device from said crimping apparatus into said restraining sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.