Method and apparatus for reducing a stent

A system for crimping a stent comprising:

• a crimper, the crimper having a plurality of movable crimping blades, the crimping blades defining a crimping iris, the crimping iris having an open state and a closed state, in the open state the cross-sectional area of the crimping iris being greater than in the closed state, in the open state the crimping iris constructed and arranged to receive a stent therein, in the open state the stent having an uncrimped configuration and in the closed state the stent having a crimped configuration, in the crimped configuration the stent having a diameter less than that in the uncrimped configuration;
• a plurality of protective strips, each strip extending from a feeder spool to a receiver spool, each of the strips extending longitudinally though the crimping iris and positioned between the plurality of crimping blades and the stent, in the open state each of the strips being radially offset from one another, in the closed state the strips being overlappingly engaged to one another to form a substantially continuous sheath about the stent, the sheath being positioned between and removably engaged to the stent and the plurality of crimping blades;
• and
• a plurality of plungers, each strip having a first plunger and a second plunger radially adjacent thereto, each first plunger being positioned between a first end of the crimping iris and one feeder spool, each second plunger positioned between a second end of the crimping iris and one receiver spool. each plunger being moveable between an outward position and an inward position, in the inward position each plunger engaging one strip to bias the one strip against the stent.