Patent ID: 6968607

Claim:
A method of compressing an article comprising the steps of: a. providing an arrangement of a plurality of segments, each having a predetermined shape with a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between a proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, one said point being disposed on the centerline and one said point being disposed off the centerline, and one said point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary member and one said point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable member, the segments being arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a cylindrical dimension, and that the segment centerlines extending therefrom toward the segment distal ends are oriented away from the central point; and b. placing a stent on a base substrate; c. inserting the stent and base substrate into the central aperture; and d. rotating the rotatable member in a predetermined direction so that the segment distal ends move closer to the central point, whereby the segment distal ends contact, compress, and crimp the stent onto the base substrate.