Patent ID: 6510722
Filing Date: 2003-01-28
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
A stent crimping device for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter comprising:a plurality of jaws radially spaced about a longitudinal axis and capable of moving radially inwardly and outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis, the jaws being spaced radially outwardly from the longitudinal axis a sufficient distance to receive within the jaws a stent-carrying balloon catheter, each jaw having an edge for crimping a stent; an inner hub and outer hub, the inner hub having a longitudinal axis, and including retention means for retaining the plurality of jaws in a selected radial pattern about the longitudinal axis, the outer hub enclosing the jaws and being rotatably attached to the inner hub such that the outer hub translates axially on the longitudinal axis when rotated about the inner hub; force application means for moving the jaws radially inwardly toward the longitudinal axis to compress and crimp the stent against the balloon catheter to form a unitary stent-delivery catheter; and a plurality of spring-loaded push rod assemblies, the assemblies being received in cavities in the jaws and bearing against stops on the inner hub to allow the stent-bearing catheter to be removed from the jaws.