Patent ID: 6863683
Filing Date: 2005-03-08
Classification: A61F,A61M,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a stent delivery system comprising: providing apparatus comprising a stent and a catheter having an inflatable balloon; disposing the stent about the balloon; placing an elastic crimping tube over the stent and the balloon; placing the balloon and the stent within a crimping tool; inflating the balloon; actuating the crimping tool to compress the stent onto the balloon at a substantially constant temperature, thereby causing the balloon to extend non-uniformly into interstices of the stent; deflating the balloon while the crimping tool is still actuated, thereby securing non-uniform creases of the balloon within the interstices of the stent; removing the elastic crimping tube from the stent and the balloon; placing a semi-rigid crimping tube over the stent and the balloon; and re-actuating the crimping system to further compress the stent onto the balloon.