6,024,737
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Morales
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`USOO6024737A
`
`[54]
`
`STENT CRIMPING DEVICE
`
`[75]
`
`Inventor: Stephen A. Morales, Mountain View,
`Calif.
`
`~
`.
`-
`[73] ASSlgnee‘ ?dva§ce? (girdméafiular Syswms’
`“c”
`an a
`are"
`a 1 ‘
`
`7/1998 Dunham.
`5,783,227
`7/1998 Schatz.
`5,785,715
`9/1998 Solar ................................... 606/198 X
`5,810,838
`9/1998 Morales .................................. 606/198
`5,810,873
`5,836,952 11/1998 Davis et al.
`.
`5,860,966
`1/1999 Tower
`......................................... 606/1
`5,893,867
`4/1999 Bagaoisan et a1.
`. 606/198
`
`6/1999 Yan ........................................... 29/516
`5,911,452
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 09/030,261
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Feb. 25, 1998
`
`Int. Cl.7 ..................................................... A61B 17/00
`[51]
`[52] US. Cl.
`................................................................... 606/1
`[58] Field of Search ................................ 606/1, 108, 198;
`623/1, 12; 81/345; 29/282
`
`[56]
`
`REferences 0‘9“
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`696,289
`2,553,479
`4,468,224
`4,576,142
`4,644,936
`4,681,092
`4,697,573
`4,901,707
`4,907,336
`5,132,066
`5,133,732
`5,183,085
`5,189,786
`5,437,083
`5,546,646
`596269604
`576307830
`g’ggg’fi;
`,
`,
`5,725,519
`5,738,674
`5,746,764
`
`......................... 81/345
`.
`
`3/1902 Williams.
`5/1951 Schmarje et a1.
`8/1984 Enzmann et a1.
`3/1986 Schiff.
`2/1987 Schiff .
`7/1987 Cho et a1.
`10/1987 Schiff .
`2/1990 Schiff .
`3/1990 Gianturco.
`7/1992 Charlesworth et a1.
`7/1992 Wiktor.
`2/1993 Timmermans.
`3/1993 lshikawa et a1.
`8/1995 Williams et a1.
`8/1996 Williams et a1.
`5/1997 COttOIle, JR -
`5/1997 Verbeek -
`3133;
`it“? 61: al‘ ‘
`606/192 X
`er ee
`..............................
`3/1998 Penner et a1.
`............................... 606/1
`4/1998 Williams et al.
`.
`5/1998 Green et a1.
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
`.
`.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`159065
`WO 98/14120
`WO 98/19633
`
`2/1921 United Kingdom .
`4/1998 WIPO .
`5/1998 WIPO .
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`US. Patent application Ser. No. 08/795,335 filed Feb. 4,
`1997.
`
`US. Patent application Ser. No. 08/837,771 filed Apr. 22,
`1997-
`U.S. Patent application Ser. No. 08/089,936 filed Jul. 15,
`1997
`
`.
`.
`.
`US. Patent application Ser. No. 08/962,632 filed Nov. 3,
`1997~
`The eXTraordinary Stent, C.R. Bard Brochure (Undated).
`
`Primary Examiner—Jeffrey A. Smith
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Fulwider Patton Lee & Utecht,
`LLP
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`A slidably-engageable deVice for enabling effective crimp-
`ing of an intravascular stent onto a balloon catheter assem-
`bly. The stent crimping device includes at least one com-
`pressible and releasable loop portion Which enables the stent
`and catheter assembly to be supported thereon, and is
`compressible radially inwardly to effectively crimp the stent
`onto the balloon catheter assembly‘
`
`20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`Edwards Lifesciences V.
`
`Boston Scientific
`
`US. Patent N 0. 6,915,560
`IPR2017-00444 EX. 2045
`
`mmwm
`
`
`II
`
`.
`'
`5'5:
`
`
`iffis‘mmve
`
`
`
`26
`32
`
`Page 1 of 10
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`Page 1 of 10
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
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`Sheet 1 0f5
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`6,024,737
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`F/G./
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 15,2000
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`Sheet 2 0f5
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`6,024,737
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`FIG. 2
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`8
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`6
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`5
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`48
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`22
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`__ any
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`73 €SSS§§§§§L£
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`36
`26
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 15,2000
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`Sheet 3 0f5
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`6,024,737
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 15,2000
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`Sheet 4 0f5
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`6,024,737
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`F/G. 7
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`F/G. 9
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`Illllé‘“EI
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`40
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`E E I
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`lllll
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 15, 2000
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`Sheet 5 0f 5
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`6,024,737
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`Page 6 of 10
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`Page 6 of 10
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`

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`6,024,737
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`1
`STENT CRIMPING DEVICE
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`This invention relates to a stent crimping device of the
`type that will enable the user to crimp a stent onto the distal
`end of a balloon catheter assembly, for example of the kind
`used in a typical percutaneous transluminal coronary angio-
`plasty (PTCA) procedure.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In a typical PTCA procedure, for compressing lesion
`plaque against the artery wall to dilate the artery lumen, a
`guiding catheter is percutaneously introduced into the car-
`diovascular system of a patient
`through the brachial or
`femoral arteries and advanced through the vasculature until
`the distal end is in the ostium. A guidewire and a dilatation
`catheter having a balloon on the distal end are introduced
`through the guiding catheter with the guidewire sliding
`within the dilatation catheter. The guidewire is first
`advanced out of the guiding catheter into the patient’s
`coronary vasculature, and the dilatation catheter is advanced
`over the previously advanced guidewire until the dilatation
`balloon is properly positioned across the lesion. Once in
`position across the lesion, a flexible, expandable, preformed
`balloon is inflated to a predetermined size at relatively high
`pressures to radially compress the atherosclerotic plaque of
`the lesion against the inside of the artery wall and thereby
`dilate the lumen of the artery. The balloon is then deflated to
`a small profile, so that the dilatation catheter can be with-
`drawn from the patient’s vasculature and blood flow
`resumed through the dilated artery. While this procedure is
`typical, it is not the only method used in angioplasty. Other
`methods to open a vessel are known, such as atherectomies
`and plaque dissolving drugs.
`In angioplasty procedures of the kind referenced above, a
`restenosis of the artery may develop over several months,
`which may require another angioplasty procedure, a surgical
`bypass operation, or some method of repairing or strength-
`ening the area. To reduce the chance of the development of
`restenosis and strengthen the area, a physician can implant
`an intravascular prosthesis for maintaining vascular patency,
`typically called a stent. Astent is a device used to hold tissue
`in place in a vessel or to provide a support for a vessel to
`hold it open so that blood flows freely. Avariety of devices
`are known in the art for use as stents, including expandable
`tubular members, in a variety of patterns, that are able to be
`crimped onto a balloon catheter, and expanded after being
`positioned intraluminally on the balloon catheter, and that
`retain their expanded form. Typically, the stent is loaded and
`crimped onto the balloon portion of the catheter, and
`advanced to a location inside the artery at the lesion. The
`stent is then expanded to a larger diameter, by the balloon
`portion of the catheter, to implant the stent in the artery at the
`lesion. Examples of stents and delivery catheters as
`described are disclosed in more detail
`in US. Pat. No.
`
`5,102,417 (Palmaz), US. Pat. No. 5,569,295 (Lam), and
`US. Pat. No. 5,514,154 (Lau et al.).
`However, if the stent is not effectively crimped onto the
`catheter balloon portion, when the catheter is advanced in
`the patient’s vasculature the stent may move or even slide off
`the catheter balloon portion in the body lumen or coronary
`artery prior to expansion, and may block the flow of blood,
`requiring procedures to remove the stent.
`In procedures where the stent is placed over the balloon
`portion of the catheter, the stent must be crimped onto the
`balloon portion to prevent the stent from sliding off the
`catheter when the catheter is advanced in the patient’s
`vasculature. In the past this crimping was often done by
`hand, which does not provide optimum results due to the
`
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`resulting in non-uniform
`uneven force being applied,
`crimps. In addition, it was difficult to judge when a uniform
`and reliable crimp had been applied. The prior art tools and
`methods have not been entirely adequate in achieving a
`uniform crimp. Stent designs generally are based on a
`uniform metal-to-artery ratio for the highest success rate,
`thus a non-uniformly crimped stent may result
`in an
`unevenly expanded stent in the vessel or artery, which is
`undesirable.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention is directed to a vascular prosthesis crimp-
`ing device which enables uniform and tight crimping of a
`stent onto a catheter balloon portion, to better secure the
`stent onto the catheter for delivery of the stent through the
`patient’s vasculature. The present
`invention attempts to
`solve several problems associated with crimping stents onto
`balloon catheters.
`
`In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the
`stent crimping device includes a compressible and releasable
`loop portion of a flexible sleeve in a hand tool, secured at its
`opposed ends to slidably-engageable members of the hand
`tool. The loop portion is compressible radially inwardly by
`the application of slidably-engageable compressive force to
`the hand tool by the user, to uniformly and tightly crimp the
`stent onto the balloon catheter assembly. The loop portion is
`further releasable upon release by the user of the compres-
`sive force applied to the hand tool, to enable release of the
`stent crimped onto the balloon catheter assembly.
`The crimping device enables the stent to be uniformly and
`tightly crimped onto the distal end of a balloon catheter,
`reducing the risk that the stent may slide off the catheter
`balloon portion. It is further easy to use in performing the
`stent crimping procedure.
`In an exemplary method of crimping the stent onto the
`balloon portion of a catheter, the crimping device is designed
`to be hand-held and the crimping method performed by one
`person. The stent is first pre-loaded onto the balloon by
`sliding the stent over the deflated balloon. The stent and
`balloon catheter assembly are placed or positioned within
`the radially compressible device and supported therein so
`that the stent and balloon are positioned within the loop
`portion of the flexible sleeve. While the user holds the stent
`and balloon catheter assembly in one hand, a compressive
`force is applied using the other hand by applying slidingly
`engageable force with the crimping device. As the loop
`portion constricts in diameter, it will uniformly and tightly
`compress the stent onto the balloon portion of the catheter.
`Thereafter, the user releases the compressive force thereby
`releasing tension on the loop so that the stent, now tightly
`compressed onto the balloon portion of the catheter, can be
`removed from the crimping device.
`These and other advantages of the invention will become
`more apparent from the following detailed description
`thereof when taken in conjunction with the accompanying
`drawings.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment
`of the present invention,
`in which the slidably-engaging
`member is slidably moved into engagement with the receiv-
`ing member;
`FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention in the expanded loop
`portion condition.
`FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the exemplary
`embodiment of the present invention in which the loop
`portion of the hand tool is in compressed condition for
`crimping the stent onto the catheter balloon portion.
`
`Page 7 of 10
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`Page 7 of 10
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`

`

`6,024,737
`
`3
`FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the slidably engaging
`member and first securing member.
`FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the slidably engaging member
`and first securing member, taken along line 5—5 of FIG. 4.
`FIG. 6 is an end view of the first securing member taken
`along line 6—6 of FIG. 5.
`FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the receiving member
`and second securing member.
`FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the receiving member and
`second securing member, taken along line 8—8 of FIG. 7.
`FIG. 9 is an end view of the second securing member
`taken along line 9—9 of FIG. 8.
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view depicting one embodiment
`of the loop portion.
`FIG. 11 is a perspective view depicting an alternative
`embodiment of the loop portion.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`Device 10 comprises a tool 20 for enabling effective
`crimping of an intravascular stent 5 onto the collapsed
`balloon portion 6 adjacent the distal end 7 of a balloon
`catheter assembly 8. In the exemplary embodiment of device
`10, as shown in FIGS. 1—9, tool 20 is adapted to be held in
`the hand of the user, so as to enable stent 5 and catheter 14
`to be supported in tool 20, and to enable the user to apply
`compressive force to tool 20 to crimp the stent on the
`catheter.
`
`Tool 20 includes receiving member 22, and slidably
`engaging member 24 that is slidably movable into engage-
`ment with receiving member 22. Slidably engaging member
`24 includes a handle portion 26, and a projecting portion 28
`slidably engageable with the receiving member. Receiving
`member 22 has a groove 30 therein. Projecting portion 28 of
`slidably-engaging member 24 and groove 30 of receiving
`member 22 are engageable and generally complementary in
`shape. Receiving member 22 and slidably engaging member
`24 are both preferably translucent.
`Tool 20 further includes a crimping member 32, secured
`at its ends to slidably-engaging member 24 and receiving
`member 22, for supporting stent 5 and catheter 8 therein.
`Member 32 includes a first end 34, adapted to be secured to
`slidably-engageable member 24, and a second end 36, at the
`end of member 32 opposite the first end, adapted to be
`secured to receiving member 22. Afirst securing member 38
`is adapted to secure first end 34 to slidably-engaging mem-
`ber 24, and a second securing member 40 is adapted to
`secure second end 36 to receiving member 22. Member 32
`further includes at least one compressible loop portion 42
`wherein the portion of balloon catheter assembly 8 with
`stent 5 loaded thereon may be supported. Supporting mem-
`ber 32 is comprised of compressible material, such that upon
`sliding slidably-engaging member 24 into engagement with
`receiving member 22, loop portion 42 is compressed radially
`inwardly to crimp stent 5 balloon portion 6. In other words,
`the diameter of loop portion 42 decreases as members 22,24
`are squeezed together, thereby crimping stent 5 onto balloon
`portion 6. Upon release of force applied by slidably engag-
`ing member 24, by pulling slidably engaging member 24 out
`of engagement with receiving member 22, the crimped stent
`5 and the catheter may be removed from loop portion 42.
`The compressible material of which member 32 is com-
`prised is preferably a polyester film, such as Mylar®, which
`is a registered trademark of Du Pont Corporation,
`Wilmington, Del. Repeated squeezing of members 22,24
`together to compress loop portion 42 on the stent will result
`in an increasingly tighter crimped stent on the balloon.
`In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1—9, slidably-
`engageable member 24 includes a recessed portion 44
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`including a plurality of pegs 46 projecting therefrom, and
`first securing member 38 includes a slot 48 for engaging
`crimping member 32 and first member pegs 46, to align and
`secure crimping member 32 to slidably-engaging member
`24. Second securing member 40 includes a facing surface 50
`including a plurality of pegs 52 projecting therefrom, and
`receiving member 22 includes a slot 54 for engaging crimp-
`ing member 32 and second securing member pegs 52, to
`align and secure crimping member 32 to receiving member
`22.
`
`As seen in FIGS. 10 and 11, two preferred alternative
`embodiments of member 32 are depicted. Loop portion 42
`includes a plurality of loops and it is sized to accept stent 5
`and balloon portion 6 of the catheter prior to crimping. As
`the slidably-engaging member 24 and receiving member 22
`are pushed together, first end 34 and second end 36 move in
`opposite directions,
`thereby constricting loop portion 42
`onto the stent and crimping it onto the balloon with increas-
`ing force. As shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, in order to secure
`member 32 and assist in placing ends 34,36 in tension, holes
`35 align with pegs 52 while holes 37 align with pegs 46.
`Thus, ends are securely attached to the respective sets of
`pegs so that as members 22,24 are squeezed together, ends
`35,37 move with pegs 46,52.
`In operation, to load stent 5 onto collapsed balloon portion
`6 of balloon catheter assembly 8, stent 5 is mounted over the
`balloon so that the stent overlies the balloon portion but is
`not crimped thereon. To enable stent 5 to be crimped onto
`catheter balloon portion 6, the stent and the catheter balloon
`portion may be inserted into and supported in loop portion
`42 of tool supporting member 32. At this point, stent 5 is not
`crimped onto the balloon because it has not been com-
`pressed.
`To crimp stent 5 onto catheter balloon portion 6, the user
`of tool 20 secures the ends 35,37 of member 32 to slidably-
`engaging member 24 and receiving member 22. Member 32
`is secured to slidably-engaging member 24 by positioning
`first end 34 of member 32 between pegs 46 in recessed
`portion 44 of slidably-engaging member 24 and pressing slot
`48 in first securing member 38 into engagement with mem-
`ber 32 and pegs 46 in slidably-engaging member 24. Mem-
`ber 32 is secured to receiving member 22 by positioning
`second end 36 of member 32 between pegs 52 in facing
`surface 50 of second securing member 40 and pressing pegs
`52 in second securing member 40 into engagement with
`member 32 and slot 54 in receiving member 22.
`The user of tool 20 may then apply force to slide slidably-
`engageable member 24 into engagement with receiving
`member 22, such that as projecting portion 28 of slidably-
`engageable member 24 pushes crimping member 32,
`secured at both ends 35,37,
`into groove 30 of receiving
`member 22. This motion will then move first end 35 and
`second end 37 in opposite directions which causes the
`diameter of loop portion 42 to become smaller and compress
`radially inwardly,
`thereby compressing stent 5 radially
`inwardly onto catheter balloon portion 6.
`After stent 5 has been crimped onto catheter balloon
`portion 6, the user may release the force applied to crimping
`member 32 by pulling slidably-engaging member 24 out of
`engagement with receiving member 22. This motion allows
`loop portion 42 to increase in diameter. The user may then
`release member 32 from being secured by first member 38
`and second member 40, by disengaging first member 38
`from member 32 and slidably-engageable member 24, and
`disengaging second member 40 from member 32 and receiv-
`ing member 22, enabling removal of crimped stent and
`catheter balloon portion from loop portion 42. Balloon
`catheter assembly 8, with stent 5 crimped thereon, is then
`ready for insertion into the body of the patient for deploy-
`ment of the stent therein.
`
`Page 8 of 10
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`Page 8 of 10
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`

`6,024,737
`
`5
`A novel feature of the present invention is the crimping
`tool’s ability to vary the constriction of various parts of the
`stent. Thus, the stent will be crimped harder in some places,
`localizing the traction (interface) between the stent and the
`balloon. Even though there are variations in crimping force
`on the stent, it remains within the bounds of uniformity. In
`the case of a coronary artery stent, the crimped stent may
`have diameters along its length in the range of 0.003 to 0.005
`inch and still be considered a uniform crimp with good
`traction or holding force on the balloon.
`While in the preferred embodiment the stent described is
`intended to be an intraluminal vascular prosthesis for use
`within a blood vessel, and the balloon delivery catheter is of
`the same or similar to that used in therapeutic coronary
`angioplasty, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art
`that modifications may be made to the present invention to
`allow the present invention to be used to crimp any type of
`prosthesis. The present invention is not limited to stents that
`are deployed in a patient’s vasculature, but has wide appli-
`cations to crimping any type of graft, prosthesis, liner or
`similar structure. Furthermore, the stent may be delivered
`not only into coronary arteries, but into any body lumen.
`Other modifications can be made to the present invention by
`those skilled in the art without departing from the scope
`thereof.
`What is claimed is:
`
`1. A hand-held device for crimping a stent onto a balloon
`catheter assembly, comprising:
`means for supporting a portion of the balloon catheter
`assembly on which the stent may be loaded, the sup-
`porting means having a tubular compressible portion
`having an interior and an exterior which is compress-
`ible radially inwardly upon the application of force
`thereto to crimp the stent onto the catheter portion
`disposed within the interior, and is releasable upon
`release of the applied force to release the crimped stent
`and catheter portion;
`wherein the compressible portion of the supporting means
`includes a sleeve having at least one loop for support-
`ing the stent and the catheter; and
`means for enabling force to be applied to the supporting
`means and to be slidably movable and engageable
`radially relative to the tubular compressible portion, so
`as to enable the user to apply slidably-engageable
`compressive force thereto to generate compression,
`radially inwardly, of the compressible portion of the
`supporting means,
`for crimping the stent onto the
`catheter portion.
`2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the force application
`enabling means comprise means for receiving the supporting
`means.
`
`3. A device as in claim 2, wherein the force application
`enabling means further comprise means for slidably engag-
`ing the receiving means so as to compress the supporting
`means compressible portion.
`4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the force application
`enabling means further comprise means for securing the
`supporting means to the receiving means and the slidably
`engaging means.
`5. A device as in claim 4, wherein the supporting means
`include a first portion, and the securing means comprise
`means for securing the first portion of the supporting means
`to the receiving means.
`6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the supporting means
`further comprise a second portion, and the securing means
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`further comprise means for securing the second portion of
`the supporting means to the slidably engaging means.
`7. A device as in claim 3, wherein the slidably engaging
`means include a handle portion, and a projecting portion
`slidably engageable with the receiving means.
`8. A device as in claim 7, wherein the receiving means
`include a groove therein, and the slidably engaging means
`projecting portion and receiving means groove are generally
`complementary in shape.
`9. A device as in claim 2, wherein the receiving means
`include a groove therein.
`10. A device as in claim 2, wherein the receiving means
`are comprised of a translucent material.
`11. Adevice as in claim 1, wherein the sleeve is comprised
`of a flexible material.
`12. A device as in claim 11, wherein the flexible sleeve
`material comprises a polyester film.
`13. A crimping tool for uniformly and tightly crimping a
`stent onto the balloon portion of a catheter, comprising:
`a crimping member having a flexible sleeve, the flexible
`sleeve having a loop portion capable of changing from
`a first larger diameter to a second smaller diameter;
`a projecting member:
`a receiving member configured for slidable engagement
`with the projecting member, the receiving member and
`the projecting member having generally complemen-
`tary shapes ergonomically designed to fit the hand of a
`user;
`
`the flexible sleeve having a first end and a second end, the
`first end being attached to the receiving member and
`the second end being attached to the projecting member
`so that when the stent and balloon are positioned within
`the loop portion, the user will slidingly engage receiv-
`ing member and projecting member to pull on the ends
`of the flexible sleeve which in turn will constrict the
`
`loop portion from the first larger diameter to the second
`smaller diameter, thereby applying compressive forces
`to tightly crimp the stent onto the balloon portion of the
`catheter.
`
`14. A crimping tool as in claim 13, wherein the receiving
`member has a groove configured for
`receiving the
`complimentary-shaped projecting member.
`15. A crimping tool as in claim 13, wherein the crimping
`tool is formed from a substantially rigid material.
`16. A crimping tool as in claim 13, wherein the flexible
`sleeve is formed a flexible plastic.
`17. A crimping tool as in claim 13, wherein the first end
`of the flexible sleeve is attached to the receiving member by
`a first securing member and the second end of the flexible
`sleeve is attached to the projecting member by a second
`securing member.
`18. A crimping tool as in claim 17, wherein the first end
`and the second end of the flexible sleeve are aligned by a
`plurality of pegs extending through the ends and into the first
`and second securing members.
`19. A crimping tool as in claim 13, wherein the flexible
`sleeve has a plurality of loop portions capable of changing
`from the first larger diameter to the second smaller diameter
`in order to apply a crimping force to crimp the stent onto the
`balloon portion of the catheter.
`20. A crimping tool as in claim 19, wherein the crimping
`force applied to the stent by the plurality of loop portions
`varies along the length of the stent.
`*
`*
`*
`*
`
`*
`
`Page 9 of 10
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`Page 9 of 10
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`

`

`
`
`
`UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
`CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION
`
`
`
`PATENT NO.
`:
`6,024,737
`
`
`DATED
`: Feb. 15, 2000
`
`INVENTOR(S) : Stephen A. Morales
`
`
` Title page, under FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS, add the following:
`
`
`
`
`
`—-0 562 478A1
`2,211,694
`0 873 731Al
`
`9/1993
`2/1998
`10/1993
`
`European Pat. Off.
`Canada
`European Pat. Off.——.
`
`It is certified that error appears in the above~identified patent and that said Letters Patent is hereby
`corrected as shown below:
`
`Column 6, line 42, change "complimentary”, to read
`
`Signed and Sealed this
`
`
`
`——complementary-- .
`Q. TODD DICKINSON
`
`
`
`
`Eighteenth Day of July, 2000
`
`Arrest; W
`
`Director of Parcmx and Trademarks
`Arresting Officer
`
`
`Page100f10
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`Page 10 of 10
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`