Patent ID: 8333003

Claim:
A method of crimping a stent of a catheter assembly with a stent contracting assembly, the catheter assembly including a main catheter branch, a side catheter branch, and a stent, the stent including a proximal open end, a distal open end, and a side branch opening located between the proximal and distal open ends, wherein the side catheter branch extends into the proximal open end of the stent and out of the side branch opening, and the main catheter branch extends into the proximal open end of the stent and out of the distal open end of the stent, the stent contracting assembly defining a outer profile reduction chamber and a side surface defining an opening into the chamber, the method comprising: (a) inserting the catheter assembly through the opening in the side surface into the chamber until a distal portion of the stent up to a location distal of the side branch opening of the stent is positioned in the chamber, moving a distal end of the side catheter branch radially outward relative to the main catheter branch such that the distal end of the side catheter branch is bent radially away from the stent and remains outside of the stent contracting assembly and adjacent the side surface; (b) reducing an outer profile of the distal portion of the stent; (c) realigning the side catheter branch with the main catheter branch and inserting the entire stent into the chamber; and (d) reducing an outer profile of a proximal portion of the stent.