Method and apparatus for cold loading articles
US8256087B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 25, 2008 |
| Grant date | Sep 4, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 1, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/53996
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of loading an article, such as a self-expanding stent, into a structures, such as a delivery catheter, including the steps of chilling the article to a predetermined temperature, reducing article size a predetermined amount, inserting fluid into the article, whereby the fluid forms a substantially solid plug with respect to the article, and moving the frozen article. Also provided is an apparatus for loading an article into a structure including: an article size reduction element, a chiller connected to the size reduction element, a cold source communicatively connected to the chiller, and a fluid supply communicatively connected to the size reduction element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.