Patent ID: 7886661

Claim:
Radial compression mechanism comprising: a base member; a plurality of elongated compression dies, each individual die of the plurality of compression dies including a planar base surface and a planar contact surface extending from a point to form an angle therebetween at one end of the individual die, each die of the plurality of compression dies being cammingly coupled to the base member and defining a camming point; the plurality of compression dies being arranged in a generally circular orientation on the base member with the planar contact surface of each die being in sliding contact with the planar base surface of an adjacent die and a portion of each planar base surface of each die cooperating with portions of planar base surfaces of adjacent dies to define a generally cylindrical central cavity, the plurality of compression dies being further mounted for relative movement between a central cavity open position and a central cavity closed position; and a driving mechanism formed to rotate about a central axis of the mechanism, the driving mechanism cammingly coupled to each die of the plurality of compression dies and designed to move the plurality of compression dies in unison between the central cavity open position and the central cavity closed position, rotation of the driving mechanism moves each individual die of the plurality of compression dies generally arcuately about the camming point of the individual die, angles of cam contact being designed to provide a net inward force on each individual die to keep each individual die in contact with neighboring dies.