Method and apparatus for uniformly crimping a stent onto a catheter
US5974652A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 5, 1998 |
| Grant date | Nov 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 5, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53996
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter is constructed from a crimping section holding the stent and the balloon catheter therein, wherein the crimping is actuated by a shaft having an input end and an output end, engaging the crimping section at the output end. The shaft has a detent formed into the input end. A gripping member has an internal cavity to receive the input end, and includes a hole proximate to the shaft, wherein a ball bearing and a compression spring are located within the hole to bias the ball bearing toward the shaft and to engage the detent. When a torque is applied to the gripping member, it is transmitted through the ball bearing to the shaft; if the torque exceeds a predetermined magnitude, it overcomes the force of the spring on the ball bearing causing the bearing to slide out of the detent thereby disconnecting the applied torque from the shaft. The crimping section can be a rubber tube having a lumen holding the stent and catheter. When the shaft compresses the rubber tube as it advances, the lumen collapses and crimps the stent onto the catheter. In another embodiment, the crimping section is a coiled filam…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.