Patent ID: 8291570

Claim:
A method of crimping and coating a stent on a stent delivery assembly, comprising the steps of: providing a crimping apparatus including a plurality of crimping blades positioned in a radial array and collectively forming a central crimping lumen, the plurality of crimping blades radially movable to alter the diameter of the central crimping lumen, one or more of the crimping blades including a fluid channel and one or more openings in fluid communication with the fluid channel; positioning a balloon of a balloon catheter and a stent surrounding a portion of the balloon in the crimping lumen of the crimping apparatus; radially contracting the plurality of crimping blades toward the stent to thereby crimp the stent onto the balloon; coating at least a portion of the stent by discharging a fluid into the crimping lumen and into contact with the stent from the one or more openings; radially retracting the plurality of crimping blades away from the stent; and removing the balloon and crimped stent from the crimping lumen of the crimping apparatus.