Patent ID: 8769796
Filing Date: 2014-07-08
Classification: A61F,A61L,A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of crimping a stent on an expandable member of a delivery catheter, the method comprising: positioning a stent over an expandable member, the stent having a distal-most first end and a proximal-most second end, wherein a first portion and a second portion respectively extend between the distal-most first end and proximal-most second end, the stent comprising a sidewall having a side hole therethrough; routing an elongate shaft under the second portion of the stent and through the side hole so as to be routed external to the first portion; and non-uniformly crimping the stent to the expandable member, wherein the expandable member comprises a delivery balloon extending between and beyond both the distal-most first end and the proximal-most second end, wherein the stent is non-uniformly crimped such that only a segment of the second portion is embedded in the delivery balloon and the second portion is partially crimped to the expandable member such that the second portion remains uncrimped to the expandable member over a sector of the expandable member; and wherein crimping the stent second portion comprises: positioning a spacer between a sector of the elongate shaft and a sector of the stent second portion; crimping the sector of the stent second portion into contact with the spacer; and removing the spacer, wherein the elongate shaft is slidably disposed relative to the stent second portion prior to deployment of the stent.