Device for and Method of Loading Stents Into Delivery Tubes

A stent loading device comprising:

• a crimping device having an opening that is configured and adapted to receive a stent, the opening of the crimping device having an adjustable diameter;
• a stent extractor that is configured and adapted to move linearly relative to the opening of the crimping device in manner such that the stent extractor can force a stent out of the opening of the crimping device;
• a programmable control system that can control the diameter of the opening of the crimping device and that can control the linear movement of the stent extractor relative to the opening of the crimping device, the programmable control system being programed to oscillate the diameter of the opening of the crimping device and to simultaneously cause the stent extractor to move linearly relative to the opening of the crimping device.