Patent ID: 8752266

Claim:
A method for crimping a balloon-expandable stent scaffolding to a balloon, comprising the steps of: providing a tube comprising PLLA-(poly(L-lactide)) characterized by a glass transition temperature range having a lower limit of about 55° C.; radially expanding the tube to increase its radial stiffness; forming the scaffolding from the radially-expanded tube including the steps of forming a circumferential series of closed cells having a W-shape and linear link struts connecting the W-shape cells, the scaffolding having a first diameter that is at least about 2.5 times greater than a final crimp diameter; and using a crimping device, crimping the scaffolding to the balloon while the scaffolding has a temperature of between about 48° C. and 54° C., including the step of: crimping the scaffolding from the first diameter to a second diameter, removing the scaffolding from the crimping device, returning the scaffolding to the crimping device, wherein the scaffolding is aligned on the balloon when the scaffolding is returned to the crimping device, and crimping the scaffolding from the second diameter to the final crimp diameter.