Device for and method of loading stents into delivery tubes

A method of loading a stent into a delivery tube, the method comprising:

• loading a stent into an opening of a crimping device of a stent loading device, the stent having an initial diameter, the opening having an adjustable size, the stent loading device comprising a control system and a motor driven threaded member that is functionally connected to the crimping device in a manner such that rotation of the motor driven threaded member controllably adjusts the size of the opening of the crimping device;
• crimping the stent via the crimping device in a manner reducing the diameter of the stent from the initial diameter;
• and
• forcing the stent out of the opening of the crimping device and into a passageway of a delivery tube while oscillating the size of the opening of the crimping device, and thereby oscillating the stent, by rapidly changing rotational direction of the motor driven threaded member, the control system limiting the amplitude of the oscillations of the size of the opening of the crimping device by limiting the amount the threaded member rotates during the oscillations, the passageway of the delivery tube having a diameter that is less than the initial diameter of the stent.