Patent ID: 8608795

Claim:
A loading system for compressing and loading an implantable medical device into a device chamber of a medical device delivery system, said loading system comprising: a elongate holding chamber having proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, a proximal end, a distal end, and a wall having an internal surface defining an interior chamber having a first substantially uniform diameter in the proximal portion, a second substantially uniform diameter in the distal portion, the first substantially uniform diameter being greater than the second substantially uniform diameter and the intermediate portion having a diameter that tapers from the first substantially uniform diameter to the second substantially uniform diameter, the proximal end defining a proximal opening in communication with the interior chamber in the proximal portion; an intraluminal medical device having compressed and uncompressed configurations, an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end, the intraluminal medical device disposed at least partially in at least one of the intermediate and proximal portions of the elongate holding chamber and contacting the internal surface of the elongate holding chamber such that the intraluminal medical device proximal end is oriented toward the proximal end of the elongate holding chamber and the intraluminal medical device distal end is oriented toward the distal end of the elongate holding chamber; a plunger extending through the proximal opening and partially disposed in the proximal portion of the elongate holding chamber and capable of slideable movement therein, the plunger including a shaft, at least one pusher, and an elongate member, the shaft having a proximal end and a distal end, the at least one pusher having a proximal end attached to the distal end of the shaft and a pusher distal end, the at least one pusher extending axially toward the intraluminal medical device, and adapted to transfer axial movement thereon upon distally directed axial movement of the pusher, the elongate member having a proximal end attached to the proximal end of the shaft and a distal end that is moveable relative to the shaft and disposed proximal to the proximal end of the at least one pusher; a stiffening mandrel attached to the plunger and extending through the intermediate portion, beyond the intraluminal medical device distal end and into the distal portion of the elongate holding chamber, the stiffening mandrel extending beyond the pusher distal end and adapted to be inserted into an end of said medical device delivery system when said medical device delivery system is positioned within the distal portion of the elongate holding chamber; and a cap disposed about the distal portion of the elongate holding chamber.