Patent ID: 6141855
Filing Date: 2000-11-07
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
A tool for crimping a stent on to a balloon catheter by a user, comprising:a sheet of flexible material having a central portion and end portions, wherein the sheet is curved so that the end portions overlap;a rigid panel having a top side and a bottom side, and having a thin slot therethrough;a cylindrical space defined by the curved sheet, wherein an uncrimped stent is placed over the catheter to form a catheter-stent assembly, and wherein the catheter-stent assembly is disposed within the cylindrical space;wherein the overlapping end portions pass through the slot of the rigid panel so that the cylindrical space is disposed at the top side and the overlapping end portions are at the bottom side; andwherein the user pulls on the overlapping ends to collapse the sheet forming the cylindrical space thereby crimping the stent onto the catheter.