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Abstract
A crimper device can facilitate sheathing of a stent frame for vascular delivery. The device can include first and second components that rotate relative to each other to drive radial movement of one or more compression members of the device. The one or more compression members can direct and balance a compressive force within an aperture of the device. In use, the stent frame can be positioned within the aperture and be compacted by actuation of the compression members.
Core Innovation
The invention is a device for collapsing a stent frame that uses a compression assembly driven by relative rotation between two ring portions. The device includes a first component with a first elongate handle portion and a first ring portion having a first aperture, and a second component with a second elongate handle portion and a second ring portion having a second aperture. An alignment mechanism is configured to maintain the first aperture and the second aperture coaxial during relative rotation between the first ring portion and the second ring portion.
A plurality of compression members are configured to move between an expanded configuration and a collapsed configuration as the relative rotation occurs. The compression members include engagement slots and engagement arms that extend toward an adjacent engagement slot of an adjacent compression member. During movement to the collapsed configuration, the respective engagement arm slides within the adjacent engagement slot to restrict axial movement of the plurality of compression members with respect to each other, while enabling the compression members to change the effective compression aperture.
In additional claimed configurations, the compression assembly includes a plurality of engagement arms and a plurality of engagement slots in which each engagement arm is configured to slide within an adjacent engagement slot during movement to the collapsed configuration. A separate compression assembly claim further defines the compression aperture as movable between a first configuration and a second configuration having a smaller diameter, with each compression member having a respective main body, a respective engagement slot configured to receive an adjacent engagement arm, and a respective engagement arm configured to slide within an adjacent engagement slot from another adjacent compression member.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims cover a handheld device for collapsing a stent frame using coaxially aligned, relatively rotatable components with a compression assembly, and a compression assembly defined by interconnected compression members that move an aperture from an expanded configuration to a smaller-diameter collapsed configuration. Across these independent claims, the central inventive feature set comprises coaxial aperture alignment during rotation and sliding engagement arms within adjacent engagement slots that restrict axial movement while enabling the configuration change.
Coaxially aligned apertures maintained during relative rotation with interengaged compression members
A device comprising first and second components with respective ring portions and apertures, an alignment mechanism configured to maintain the first aperture and the second aperture coaxial during relative rotation, and a plurality of compression members configured to move between expanded and collapsed configurations with the relative rotation.
Axially restrictive sliding engagement arms within adjacent engagement slots
A device where each compression member includes a respective engagement slot and a respective engagement arm extending toward an adjacent engagement slot of an adjacent compression member, wherein during movement to the collapsed configuration the respective engagement arm slides within the adjacent engagement slot to restrict axial movement of the plurality of compression members with respect to each other.
Compression assembly moved from a first configuration to a smaller-diameter second configuration via sliding arms and slots
A compression assembly comprising a plurality of compression members defining a compression aperture movable between a first configuration and a second configuration having a smaller diameter, each compression member having a respective main body, a respective engagement slot configured to receive an adjacent engagement arm, and a respective engagement arm configured to slide within an adjacent engagement slot from another adjacent compression member.
The independent claims collectively define a coaxially aligned, relatively rotating two-component system that drives a compression assembly. The compression members are interconnected so that engagement arms slide within adjacent engagement slots during the move to a collapsed configuration, with one independent claim expressly restricting axial movement between compression members while the aperture diameter is reduced in the collapsed configuration.
Stated Advantages
Not explicitly described in patent.
Documented Applications
Not explicitly described in patent.
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