Patent ID: 6024737
Filing Date: 2000-02-15
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A hand-held device for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter assembly, comprising:means for supporting a portion of the balloon catheter assembly on which the stent may be loaded, the supporting means having a tubular compressible portion having an interior and an exterior which is compressible radially inwardly upon the application of force thereto to crimp the stent onto the catheter portion disposed within the interior, and is releasable upon release of the applied force to release the crimped stent and catheter portion;wherein the compressible portion of the supporting means includes a sleeve having at least one loop for supporting the stent and the catheter; andmeans for enabling force to be applied to the supporting means and to be slidably movable and engageable radially relative to the tubular compressible portion, so as to enable the user to apply slidably-engageable compressive force thereto to generate compression, radially inwardly, of the compressible portion of the supporting means, for crimping the stent onto the catheter portion.