Crimper apparatus and methods of use
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorMichael C. Murad
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Crimper apparatus for crimping a prosthetic for crimping a prosthetic heart valve from a radially expanded state to a radially compressed state and associated methods of use are disclosed. The crimper apparatus includes a variable diameter crimping aperture that can be transitioned from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter via movement of an actuator from a first position to a second position. The crimper apparatus includes an indicator mechanism for indicating that the actuator is in the second position. The indicator mechanism includes an electrical circuit that is closed when the actuator is in the second position by bringing a first electrical contact on a stop member into communication with a second electrical contact on the actuator, and thereby activates an indicator device.
Claims20
A prosthetic valve crimper apparatus for radially compressing an expandable prosthetic valve, the crimper apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- a stop member having a first electrical contact disposed thereon, wherein the first electrical contact is coupled to an electrical circuit;
- a plurality of circumferentially arrayed nesting jaw members radially moveable within the housing, each of the jaw members having an inner end forming a crimping surface which combines with the crimping surfaces on others of the jaw members to form a crimping aperture that can transition from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter for crimping the expandable prosthetic valve;
- and
- a handle coupled to the housing, wherein the handle is moveable between a first position and a second position, wherein the crimper apparatus is configured such that movement of the handle from the first position to the second position produces radial movement of the jaw members to transition the crimping aperture from the first diameter to the second smaller diameter, and wherein the handle has a second electrical contact disposed thereon and coupled to the electrical circuit;
- wherein the second electrical contact is positioned to, when the handle is in the second position, contact the first electrical contact of the stop member and activate an indicator device.
A prosthetic valve crimper apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of crimping elements defining a crimping aperture that can transition from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter for crimping an expandable prosthetic valve;
- an electrical circuit;
- an indicator coupled to the electrical circuit;
- a stop member having a first electrical contact coupled to the electrical circuit;
- and
- a handle comprising a second electrical contact coupled to the electrical circuit, the handle operatively coupled to the crimping elements, wherein the handle is rotatable between a first position spaced from the stop member and a second position in which the second electrical contact of the handle contacts the first electrical contact of the stop member, wherein rotation of the handle from the first position to the second position moves the crimping elements and transitions the crimping aperture from the first diameter to the second smaller diameter;
- wherein, when the handle is in the second position, the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact are brought into communication to complete the electrical circuit and activate the indicator.
A prosthetic valve crimper apparatus comprising:
- a main body including a crimping aperture transitionable from a first diameter to a second smaller diameter for crimping an expandable prosthetic valve;
- a first electrical contact coupled to an electrical circuit;
- an actuator comprising a second electrical contact and operatively coupled to the main body, wherein movement of the actuator from a first position to a second position causes the crimping aperture to transition from the first diameter to the second smaller diameter, wherein, in the first position, the actuator is spaced from the first electrical contact and, in the second position, the second electrical contact of the actuator contacts the first electrical contact;
- and
- an electrically actuatable indicator in coupled to the electrical circuit;
- wherein, when the actuator is in the second position, the contact between the first electrical contact and the second electrical contact completes the electrical circuit and activates the electrically actuatable indicator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.