Patent ID: 9138338
Filing Date: 2015-09-22
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of crimping a balloon-expandable stent in preparation for delivery into a body vessel, comprising: providing a balloon-expandable stent comprising a thin-walled tubular framework of interconnected struts, the tubular framework defining a lumen; inserting a mechanically expandable apparatus into the lumen, the mechanically expandable apparatus comprising a sheet wound upon itself to form a radially expandable and contractible cylindrical shape, the sheet unwinding within the lumen to provide an outward pressure against an inner surface of the tubular framework to support the stent; reducing a diameter of the stent to a first compressed diameter while applying the outward pressure, the sheet further winding upon itself to a smaller diameter configuration as the diameter of the stent is reduced; halting the outward pressure after reaching the first compressed diameter; removing the mechanically expandable apparatus from the lumen; inserting a delivery balloon catheter into the lumen after halting the outward pressure and removing the mechanically expandable apparatus, the delivery balloon catheter comprising an uninflated balloon in a delivery configuration; and reducing the diameter of the stent to a second compressed diameter smaller than the first compressed diameter to crimp the stent onto the delivery balloon catheter.