Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for crimping a stent onto a catheter delivery system which comprises: a generally tubular channel having a longitudinal axis and having a circumferential wall formed by four spaced longitudinal segments of four spaced blocks; retention means along said generally tubular channel for retaining a stent against said circumferential wall; entrance means at an end of said generally tubular channel for allowing a delivery system to be inserted into said generally tubular channel and be positioned at a predetermined position relative to said retention means; pressure application means for forcing said four spaced longitudinal segments toward said longitudinal axis to compress and crimp said stent against said delivery system to form a unitary delivery system and stent assembly; and elastic means engaging said four blocks for releasing said compression and expanding said channel to allow said delivery system and stent assembly to be removed from said channel through said entrance means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A device for crimping a stent onto a catheter delivery system which comprises: a generally tubular channel having a longitudinal axis and having a circumferential wall formed by four spaced longitudinal segments of four spaced blocks; retention means along said generally tubular channel for retaining a stent against said circumferential wall; entrance means at an end of said generally tubular channel for allowing a delivery system to be inserted into said generally tubular channel and be positioned at a predetermined position relative to said retention means; pressure application means for forcing said four spaced longitudinal segments toward said longitudinal axis to compress and crimp said stent against said delivery system to form a unitary delivery system and stent assembly; and elastic means engaging said four blocks for releasing said compression and expanding said channel to allow said delivery system and stent assembly to be removed from said channel through said entrance means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein each of said four spaced longitudinal segments is formed at a corner of one of four circumferentially spaced blocks.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device according to claim 2 wherein said pressure application means comprises two opposed actuators movable towards each other in a pressure application direction, each actuator elastically supporting adjacent pairs of said circumferentially spaced blocks.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
93 words
The device according to claim 3 further including elastic rod means mounted substantially parallel to said generally tubular channel between said blocks on said opposed actuators so that when said opposed actuators are moved together, said rods are compressed and rod thickness is decreased in the direction of pressure application and rod thickness is increased in a transverse direction, for moving said blocks to compress said generally tubular channel in said pressure application direction and said rod transverse thickness increase moves said blocks to compress said channel transverse to said pressure application direction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said retention means comprises shallow recesses in said circumferential wall configured to receive said stent therein.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said pressure application means comprises two spaced actuators having ends, said elastic means comprises elastic guide means secured to said ends of said spaced actuators and further including end caps fastened to said elastic guide means opposite said spaced actuators for guiding said actuators for movement toward and away from each other along substantially straight lines.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein said device is made up of components at least one of which is formed from transparent plastic materials so that said stent and delivery system may be observed through said device.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
206 words
A device for installing a stent on a catheter which comprises: a substantially straight generally cylindrical channel having a central axis and a channel wall formed by four spaced corner segments of four concentrically spaced blocks; recesses in said channel wall configured to retain a stent; two adjacent said blocks elastically mounted on each of first and second actuator members having ends; two elastically deformable guide members elastically secured to ends of said first and second actuator members to permit said first and second actuator members to be manually moved toward each other; an end cap secured to each said guide member, each end cap including means for guiding guide member deformation and said first and second actuator member movement toward each other along substantially straight lines; elastic rod members between said first and second actuator members adjacent to said channel in operative engagement with said blocks; whereby movement of said first and second actuator members toward each other moves said block segments together along a line of pressure application and said rod members move said block segments together along a line transverse to said line of pressure application to crimp a stent in said channel around a catheter placed within said stent in said channel.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
206 words
A device for installing a stent on a catheter which comprises: a substantially straight generally cylindrical channel having a central axis and a channel wall formed by four spaced corner segments of four concentrically spaced blocks; recesses in said channel wall configured to retain a stent; two adjacent said blocks elastically mounted on each of first and second actuator members having ends; two elastically deformable guide members elastically secured to ends of said first and second actuator members to permit said first and second actuator members to be manually moved toward each other; an end cap secured to each said guide member, each end cap including means for guiding guide member deformation and said first and second actuator member movement toward each other along substantially straight lines; elastic rod members between said first and second actuator members adjacent to said channel in operative engagement with said blocks; whereby movement of said first and second actuator members toward each other moves said block segments together along a line of pressure application and said rod members move said block segments together along a line transverse to said line of pressure application to crimp a stent in said channel around a catheter placed within said stent in said channel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device according to claim 8 wherein each of said two adjacent blocks are joined to said actuator by a first web and together by a second web, each of said webs extending substantially parallel to said channel axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device according to claim 8 wherein said device is made up of components at least one of which is formed from transparent plastic materials so that of said stent and delivery system may be observed through said device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device according to claim 8 further including a hole through each of said guide members and end caps coaxial with said channel.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The device according to claim 8 wherein said actuators, guide members and end cap include cooperating pegs and recesses for bonding together for forming a unitary structure.