# US 8,739,379 B2 · Crimping apparatus

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- Number: US 8,739,379 B2
- Document ID: US8739379B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/197,611
- Filed: 2011-08-03
- Published: 2011-11-24
- Granted: 2014-06-03
- Earliest claimed: 2007-05-11
- Assignees: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc.
- Applicants: Stephen Dirk Pacetti
- Inventors: Stephen Dirk Pacetti
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739379B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/958: Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
- A61F 2/06: Blood vessels
- A61F 2/07: Stent-grafts
- A61F 2/82: Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents (stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07)
- A61L 31/022: {Metals or alloys}
- A61L 31/048: {obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds (A61L31/041 takes precedence)}
- A61L 31/16: Biologically active materials, e.g. therapeutic substances {(A61L31/047 takes precedence)}
- B05C 11/00: Component parts, details or accessories not specifically provided for in groups B05C1/00 - B05C9/00 (means for manipulating or holding work B05C13/00; enclosures for apparatus, booths B05C15/00; spray booths B05B16/00)
- B21D 39/048: {using presses for radially crimping tubular elements}
- A61F 2/9522: {Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument}
- A61F 2240/001: Designing or manufacturing processes
- A61L 2300/416: Anti-neoplastic or anti-proliferative or anti-restenosis or anti-angiogenic agents, e.g. paclitaxel, sirolimus
- A61L 2420/06: Coatings containing a mixture of two or more compounds
- Y10T 29/49863: with prestressing of part
- Y10T 29/49865: by temperature differential [e.g., shrink fit]
- Y10T 29/49925: Inward deformation of aperture or hollow body wall
- Y10T 29/49927: Hollow body is axially joined cup or tube
- Y10T 29/53996: by deforming
- 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)
- A61L: METHODS OR APPARATUS FOR STERILISING MATERIALS OR OBJECTS IN GENERAL; DISINFECTION, STERILISATION OR DEODORISATION OF AIR; CHEMICAL ASPECTS OF BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES; MATERIALS FOR BANDAGES, DRESSINGS, ABSORBENT PADS OR SURGICAL ARTICLES (preservation of bodies or disinfecting characterised by the agents employed A01N; preserving, e.g. sterilising, food or foodstuffs A23; preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes A61K)
- B05C: APPARATUS FOR APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL (spraying apparatus, atomising apparatus, nozzles B05B; plant for applying liquids or other fluent materials to objects by electrostatic spraying B05B5/08)
- B21D: WORKING OR PROCESSING OF SHEET METAL OR METAL TUBES, RODS OR PROFILES WITHOUT ESSENTIALLY REMOVING MATERIAL; PUNCHING METAL (working or processing of wire B21F)
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

An apparatus is disclosed including a workspace for receiving a stent and a delivery device for the stent; a source for exposing the stent in the workspace to a plasticizing agent, vapor, or moisture, wherein the stent can be reduced in diameter in the workspace while under exposure of the plasticizing agent, vapor or moisture; and a device for reducing the diameter of the stent in the workspace to position the stent on or within the deliver device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus, comprising:
(a) a workspace for receiving a stent and a delivery device for the stent;
(b) a source for exposing the stent in the workspace to a plasticizing agent, the plasticizing agent being other than water and other than saline solution, wherein the stent can be reduced in diameter in the workspace while under exposure to the plasticizing agent; and
(c) a device for reducing the diameter of the stent in the workspace to position the stent on or within the delivery device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is selected from a group consisting of methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, acetone, 2-butanone, diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran, dioxane acetonitrile, dimethyl formamide, dimethyl acetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide, 1-methoxy-2-propanol, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, methylene chloride, chloroform, toluene, pentane, hexane, cyclohexane, liquid freons, and any combination thereof.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is selected from a group consisting of gaseous freons, gasous fluorocarbons, gaseous fluorohydrocarbons, gaseous chlorofluorocarbons, gaseous chlorocarbons, perfluoromethane, difluoromethane, chloromethane, methane, ethane, propane, butane, carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, argon, neon, hydrogen sulfide, carbon monoxide, sulfur hexafluoride and any combination thereof

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plasticizing agent is selected from a group consisting of phthalate esters, isophthalate esters, terephthalate esters, citric acid esters, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycedrides and any combination thereof.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stent, wherein the plasticizing agent is a monomer of a polymer composition associated with the stent.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source includes the plasticizing agent in a gas phase for applying the gas into the workspace.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the source includes the plasticizing agent in a liquid phase for applying the liquid into the workspace.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stent including a polymeric component.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the polymeric component has a glass transition temperature greater than 60 deg. C. in a dry state and prior to exposure to the plasticizing agent, and the glass transition temperature decreases after exposure to the plasticizing agent.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the polymeric component has a glass transition temperature greater than 90 deg. C. in a dry state and prior to exposure to the plasticizing agent, and the glass transition temperature decreases after exposure to the plasticizing agent.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature of the plasticizing agent is between 30 to 100 deg. C.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stent including a polymeric component, the polymeric component having a hardness of greater than 60 shore D in a dry state and prior to exposure to the plasticizing agent, and the hardness decreases after exposure to the plasticizing agent.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the device for reducing the diameter of the stent is a crimping apparatus having the workspace in which the stent and the delivery device is placed, the workspace being in fluid communication with the source of the plasticizing agent such that the plasticizing agent can be introduced from the source into the workspace.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stent, wherein the delivery device is a sheath and the stent is positioned within the sheath.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a stent, wherein the delivery device is a balloon of a catheter assembly and the stent is crimped on the balloon.

### Claim 16

A crimping device to mount a stent on a balloon of a catheter assembly, comprising:
(a) a workspace in which the stent is placed for crimping of the stent on the balloon;
(b) means for introducing a plasticizing agent in the workspace for allowing the plasticizing agent to plasticize a polymeric component of the stent, the plasticizing agent being other than water and other than saline solution; and
(c) means for crimping the stent onto the balloon.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, wherein the means for crimping includes crimping pressure that is uniform pressure on the stent.

### Claim 18 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, wherein the means for crimping includes crimping pressure that varies through reduction of stent diameter.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, wherein the means for crimping includes crimping pressure that varies along a length of the stent.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, wherein the means for crimping includes a component selected from a group consisting of jaws, rollers, belts, sliding plates and bladders.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, further comprising a stent having a polymeric component, and a glass transition temperature of the polymeric component is decreased by the plasticizing agent in the workspace.

### Claim 22 (depends on 16)

The crimping device of claim 16, further comprising a stent having a polymeric component, and a Shore hardness of the polymeric component is decreased by the plasticizing agent in the workspace.