Patent ID: 8163001

Claim:
An apparatus for loading an expandable intraluminal medical device into a delivery device, comprising: a flexible main body having inner and outer surfaces, first and second opposing edges and first and second rolled ends, the main body adapted to alternatively adopt a substantially flat configuration that exposes a portion of the inner surface and a helical configuration in which the main body is coiled upon itself such that each of the first and second opposing edges defines a helical path, a substantial portion of the inner surface is disposed adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface, and such that the helical path defined by one of the first and second opposing edges is free of contact with the inner surface, the helical configuration defining an interior chamber adapted to receive said expandable intraluminal medical device; wherein one of the first and second rolled ends is disposed on a lengthwise axis of the apparatus and the other of the first and second rolled ends is disposed on a different axis that transects the lengthwise axis when the main body is in the helical configuration.