LOW PROFILE MOUNTING METHOD FOR LOW PROFILE BALLOON EXPANDABLE STENTS

摘要

A process is disclosed for eliminating balloon overhang beyond the ends of the stent. The edge of the cylindrical portion of the balloon is marked t o allow exact adjustment of the stent location and length to eliminate balloon overhang. A well-performed balloon folding process will maintain the position of the edge mark. Once the marked balloon has been attached to the catheter shaft and then folded, the second mounting step of the process of the present invention can begin. The present invention apparatus for stent mounting has the capability to grab the end struts of the stent. Once the stent has been grabbed, the apparatus allows the stent to be precisely moved longitudinally with respect to the balloon. The apparatus then can be used to stretch the stent by holding one end fixed and pulling in the opposi te direction on the other grabbed stent end. The stent can now be crimped in place with the stent ends exactly matched to the balloon edges thus eliminating balloon overhang. The final step in the present invention proces s is to nest the stent onto the balloon. The preferred embodiment of this step has the mounted stent slid into a standard crimping tube before it is compression nested. It is also envisioned that the inward pressure from the crimping apparatus would be sufficient to cause the stentto become nested into the balloon without the need for pressurizing the balloon.