# US 2021/0330441 A1 · Implant loading device and system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2021/0330441 A1 - Document ID: US20210330441A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 17/366,727 - Filed: 2021-07-02 - Published: 2021-10-28 - Earliest claimed: 2004-11-19 - Assignees: Pulmonx Corporation - Applicants: Pulmonx Corporation - Inventors: Ryan Olivera; Hoang Nguyen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210330441A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/0095: {Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants (for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02)} - A61B 17/12031: {complete occlusion} - A61B 17/12104: {in an air passage} - A61B 17/12172: {having a pre-set deployed three-dimensional shape (methods of manufacturing A61B2017/00526)} - A61F 2/04: Hollow or tubular parts of organs, e.g. bladders, tracheae, bronchi or bile ducts (A61F2/18, A61F2/20 take precedence; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95) - A61F 2/95: Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts - A61F 2/9525: {using a funnel} - B65B 1/04: Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles - A61B 2017/0053: {Loading magazines or sutures into applying tools} - A61B 2017/1205: {Introduction devices} - A61F 2/9522: {Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument} - A61F 2002/043: {Bronchi} - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) ## Abstract Devices, methods, and systems are provided for loading an implantable device into a container. One aspect of the loading system contains a loader element with a loading tunnel that is configured to gradually contract an implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising: pulling an implantable device using a puller element through a loading tunnel in a loading element thereby contracting the implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel, wherein the puller element is removably attached to the implantable device via a suture; and automatically releasing the suture after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state; wherein a rotator disposed on the puller element is removably attached to the suture; and wherein automatically releasing the suture after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state comprises rotation of the rotator thereby causing the suture to detach from the rotator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the suture is drawn through and exits the implantable device after the detachment of the suture from the rotator thereby detaching the suture from the implantable device. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising separating the puller element from the loading element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant. ### Claim 5 A method for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising: pulling an implantable device using a puller element through a loading tunnel in a loading element thereby contracting the implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel, wherein the puller element is removably attached to the implantable device via a suture; automatically releasing the suture after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state; pushing the implantable device through the loading tunnel and into the delivery catheter using a plunger. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising placing a portion of the delivery catheter into the loading element. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant. ### Claim 8 A method for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising: pulling an implantable device using a puller element through a loading tunnel in a loading element thereby contracting the implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel, wherein the puller element is removably attached to the implantable device; automatically releasing the implantable device after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state; and pushing the implantable device through the loading tunnel and into a delivery catheter using a plunger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising separating the puller element from the loading element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, further comprising placing a portion of the delivery catheter into the loading element. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8, wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant. ### Claim 12 A method for loading an implantable device into a container, comprising: pulling an implantable device using a puller element through a loading tunnel in a loading element thereby contracting the implantable device into a compressed state of reduced size relative to an expanded state as the implantable device travels through the loading tunnel, wherein the puller element is removably attached to the implantable device; automatically releasing the implantable device after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state; wherein automatically releasing the implantable device after the implantable device is contracted into the compressed state comprises detaching a suture. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein a rotator disposed on the puller element is removably attached to the suture; and wherein the suture is detached from the rotator by rotating the rotator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the suture is drawn through and exits the implantable device after the detachment of the suture from the rotator thereby detaching the suture from the implantable device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the implantable device is a pulmonary implant.