Crimper

A crimping apparatus for reducing the size of a stent, the crimping apparatus comprising:

• a plurality of movable dies arranged to form a chamber whose size may be varied by actuating the plurality of dies, the chamber having a length from a first end of the chamber to a second end of the chamber, each of the plurality of dies including an edge which moves along a respective movement path plane during actuation of the plurality of dies;
• the plurality of movable dies including a first die, a second die adjacent the first die and a third die adjacent the second die such that the second die is positioned between the first die and the third die;
• wherein the first die has a first movement path plane, the second die has a second movement path plane, and the third die has a third movement path plane;
• wherein a first angle is defined between the first movement path plane and the second movement path plane, and a second angle is defined between the second movement path plane and the third movement path plane, the first angle being different from the second angle.