Patent EP0935952A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0935952A2
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Stent crimping tool and method of use
Assignee: Abbott Cardiovascular Systems Inc
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Filing: 1999-02-17
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2019-02-17
Abstract
Abstract A stent crimping tool for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter. The stent crimping tool is constructed of three orthogonally arranged semi-circular shaped cams rotatably mounted on a common base. Two cams are disposed horizontally side-by-side and one cam is vertically disposed. Rotation of the three cams is synchronized by interacting racks on each cam. A groove is formed into the outer circumference of each cam and the three cams are arranged on the base, which also includes a groove, to collectively form an axial space in which a stent-catheter assembly is inserted. Rotation of the cams draws the uncrimped stent and catheter into the axial space in which the stent is crimped onto the balloon catheter by the compressive forces exerted by the grooves of the cams and the base.
Inventors
- 👤 Gregg A. Jackson
- 👤 Stephen A. Morales
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/95; A61F2/958; A61F2/9522; A61F2/9526; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S425/00; Y10S425/005; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49908; Y10T29/49925; Y10T29/49927; Y10T29/49929; Y10T29/53; Y10T29/53996
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
207 words
A tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising: a base having a central groove; first and second semicircular cams that rotate side-by-side within a
common horizontal plane, wherein the cams include parallel first and second tangents
of each cam located at a minimum distance between the cams, wherein each cam is
rotatably supported in an overlying position above the base, and wherein each cam has
a groove at a respective circumference; a vertically disposed third cam contained in a generally vertical plane
intersecting the horizontal plane containing the first and second cams, wherein the third
cam includes a third tangent parallel to the first and second tangents located at a
minimum distance from the first and second cams, and wherein the third cam is
rotatably attached to and overlying the base and engages the first and second cams at
a circumference, and wherein the third cam includes a groove at an outer
circumference; wherein the grooves of the cams and in the base collectively form an
axial space coextensive with the parallel first, second, and third tangents; whereby the stent loaded on to the balloon catheter is inserted into the
axial space and rotation of the cams collectively crimp the stent onto the catheter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
77 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second cams
each have toothed racks at a circumference on a top surface, and the third cam includes
toothed racks at a circumference on one side and on an obverse side, and wherein the
toothed rack of the third cam on one side engages the toothed rack of the first cam, and
the toothed rack on the obverse side engages the toothed rack of the second cam.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the third cam has a
semicircular shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the central groove of the
base is raised from a top surface of the base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein each cam includes a mating
surface that is chamfered.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the stent and catheter are
encased in a sleeve.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the slot of each cam has a
quarter-circle cross-sectional shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the grooves
is tapered.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein at least one of the grooves
is mottled.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the first and second cams
are biased together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the base includes a fourth
semicircular cam coplanar with the third cam in the vertical orientation, and wherein
the fourth cam includes a groove at an outer circumference that is aligned with the
raised groove of the base.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The crimping tool of claim 1, wherein the vertical plane intersects
the horizontal plane at a tight angle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The tool of claim 1, wherein the vertical plane intersects the
horizontal plane at an oblique angle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
225 words
A tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising: a base having a raised central groove separating spaced apart first and
second upright posts; a first semicircular cam having a groove formed at an outer
circumference, wherein the first cam is rotatably mounted on the first post in a
horizontal orientation; a second semicircular cam having a groove formed at an outer
circumference, wherein the second cam is rotatably mounted on the second post in a
horizontal orientation, wherein the first and second cams are oriented in a common
plane and have parallel tangents at a minimum distance between the cams; a horizontal cross bar connecting the first post to the second post
overlying the base; a third cam rotatably mounted on the cross bar in a generally vertical
orientation, wherein the third cam includes a groove at an outer circumference and
having a tangent parallel to the tangents of the cams and located on the third cam at a
minimum distance from the first and second cams, and wherein the third cam engages
the first and second cams; an axial space formed collectively by the grooves of each cam at a
minimum distance from each cam; whereby when the stent loaded onto the catheter is inserted into the axial
space, and the cams are rotated, the stent is crimped onto the catheter.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The crimping tool of claim 14, wherein each groove of the cams
is defined by at most a 180 degree arc.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The crimping tool of claim 14, wherein each cam comprises a
metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, brass, or aluminum.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising
the steps of: providing a base having a raised groove; providing first and second co-planar cams heaving respective grooves in
an outer circumference; orienting the cams side-by-side at a predetermined distance; providing a generally vertically oriented third cam having a groove at an
outer circumference that is aligned with the raised groove, wherein the third cam
engages the first and second cams, and wherein the grooves of the three cams and the
raised groove form an axial space; loading a stent onto the balloon catheter; placing the stent and balloon catheter partially into the axial space; rotating the third cam to rotate the first and second cams; drawing the stent and catheter forward into the axial space; and crimping the stent onto the catheter by rotational prcssure of the cams
against the stent.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the base and the raised groove
further comprise a fourth vertically oriented cam having a groove at an outer
circumference aligned with the groove of the third cam.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the stent is crimped by the first
and second cams and then by the third and fourth cams.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the stent is crimped
simultaneously by the first, second, third, and fourth cams.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises
the step of biasing the first and second cams together.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises
the step of passing the stent and balloon catheter through the axial space forward and
backward wherein the three cams rotate and counter-rotate, respectively.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
128 words
A tool for crimping a stent onto a balloon catheter, comprising: a base having a raised central groove; a plurality of semicircular cams each having a groove formed at an outer
circumference, wherein the plurality of cams are rotatably mounted on the base, and
wherein the cams are oriented to have parallel tangents at a minimum distance between
the cams; a rack affixed to each cam engaging the rack of an adjacent cam for
synchronized rotation of the cams; an axial space formed collectively by the raised central groove and by the
grooves of each cam at the minimum distance; and whereby when the stent loaded on to the catheter is inserted into the axial
space, and the cams are rotated, the stent is crimped onto the catheter.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the tool includes at least
three cams.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the tool includes at least
four cams.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the tool includes greater
than four cams.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the tool includes a first
cam having a larger diameter than a second cam.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the cam includes an
elastomeric coating on the groove.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the cam includes a rubber
coating on the groove.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the rack includes a
frictional surface engaging the frictional surface of the adjacent rack.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The crimping tool of claim 23, wherein the cams are fabricated to
different sizes.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US5437083A
Cited
US5546646A
Cited
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