Patent ID: 9393112
Filing Date: 2016-07-19
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A method for withdrawing, crimping, and loading a stent-mounted valve from a storage container into a delivery catheter for the performance of a transcatheter valve implantation procedure, the method comprising: attaching a loading tool to a substantially open state stent-mounted valve inside a storage container using a connector of the loading tool in an open state, wherein the connector is configured to be removably connected to the stent-mounted valve, and wherein the loading tool is configured to be coupled to an inner shaft of a delivery catheter; withdrawing the stent-mounted valve from the storage container using the loading tool; advancing the stent-mounted valve and the connector of the loading tool through a generally converging-shape crimping tool using the loading tool such that the stent-mounted valve becomes crimped and the connector of the loading tool radially contracts from the open state to a closed state; coupling the loading tool to the inner shaft of the delivery catheter; and retracting the stent-mounted valve and the loading tool into the delivery catheter.