Patent ID: 7793532

Claim:
An apparatus for reducing the size of a medical device comprising: a crimping device comprising a plurality of moveable blades arranged to form a chamber having a perimeter, the perimeter of the chamber being adjustable as the plurality of moveable blades are actuated from a first position in which the chamber has a first size to a second position in which the chamber has a second size smaller than the first size; a first roller, a second roller and a sheet of protective material extending from the first roller to the second roller; a loading mechanism arranged to load a portion of the sheet of protective material into the chamber, the loading mechanism being moveable between a first position and a second position such that the loading mechanism travels toward the chamber from the first position to the second position to load the portion of the sheet of protective material into the chamber; and a tensioning means for removing an excess portion of the sheet of protective material from the chamber as the moveable blades are actuated from the first position to the second position by maintaining tension on a portion of the sheet of protective material located exterior of the chamber as the moveable blades are actuated from the first position to the second position.