Patent ID: 6689123
Filing Date: 2004-02-10
Classification: A61F,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for securing a stent on a balloon catheter, comprising:a) a first clamping portion provided with a first clamping portion recess, said first clamping portion recess sized and adapted to receive a stent crimping sleeve; b) a second clamping portion provided with a second clamping portion recess, said second clamping portion recess sized and adapted to receive a stent crimping sleeve, said first clamping portion recess and said second clamping portion recess defining a longitudinal stent crimping sleeve channel having a variable cross-sectional diameter, said first and said second clamping portions adapted for movement in a first direction away from each other to a first position and in a second direction toward each other to a second position to selectively impart pressure to a stent crimping sleeve disposed in said longitudinal stent crimping sleeve channel, said clamping portion recesses sized and adapted so that said longitudinal stent crimping sleeve channel has a substantially circular cross-sectional diameter when said first and said second clamping portions are in said second position; c) a stent crimping sleeve disposed in said crimping sleeve channel, said sleeve having a first end, a second end, an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a longitudinal stent crimping bore therethrough, said longitudinal stent crimping bore having a selectively variable substantially circular cross-sectional diameter and sized and adapted to receive a balloon catheter with a stent mounted thereon, said stent crimping sleeve further adapted to selectively and substantially uniformly vary said substantially circular cross-sectional diameter of said longitudinal stent crimping bore in response to pressure applied to said external surface of said stent crimping sleeve by said first clamping portion and said second clamping portion when said first clamping portion and said second clamping portion are moved in said second direction.