Patent ID: 6240615
Filing Date: 2001-06-05
Classification: A61F,Y10T

Abstract:
A tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising:a crimping section holding the stent and the balloon catheter therein;a shaft having an input end and an output end, engaging the crimping section at the output end, which shaft when rotated actuates the crimping section to crimp the stent;a detent formed into the input end of the shaft;a gripping member having an internal cavity to receive the input end of the shaft, wherein the cavity includes a hole proximate to the shaft;a stop member; anda biasing member disposed in the hole and biasing the stop member into engagement with the detent;wherein the crimping section includesa base having at least first and second spaced apart supports;wherein the shaft is rotatably disposed on the second support with the output end of the shaft extending toward the first support;a coiled filament having an axial space and being attached to the first support and the output end of the shaft and extending between the first and second supports;whereby inserting the stent and catheter into the axial space of the coiled filament and rotating the shaft reduces the diameter of the axial space thereby crimping the stent onto the catheter.