METHOD FOR STENT SHAPING

摘要

An apparatus for crimping a radially expandable stent includes a pressure vessel, shaping balloon, and mandrel. The mandrel is configured to slidingly receive a stent thereon, and to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel. The shaping balloon is inflated to radially compress the stent onto the form of the mandrel; such compression need not be uniform. Pressurization of the shaping balloon facilitates the expansion of the balloon to achieve compression of the stent, with depressurization of the shaping balloon causing the balloon to return to an unexpanded state.

主权项

1. A method of shaping a stent, the method comprising:
providing a pressure vessel, the pressure vessel comprising a pressure vessel lumen, the pressure vessel further comprising a shaping balloon having a balloon opening, the shaping balloon positioned circumferentially about the pressure vessel lumen and defining an central inner wall portion of the pressure vessel lumen, wherein the shaping balloon comprises a balloon interior chamber and wherein the balloon opening defines a central lumen portion of the pressure vessel lumen, the pressure vessel further comprising a fluid lumen in fluid communication with the balloon interior chamber; providing a mandrel comprising a stent-receiving portion, wherein the mandrel is sized and configured to be slidingly advanced into the pressure vessel lumen to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening; positioning a stent onto the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel; slidingly advancing the mandrel into the pressure vessel lumen to a position where the stent-receiving portion is positioned within the balloon opening; inflating the shaping balloon with sufficient pressure to cause the balloon to expand to its expanded configuration, whereby the balloon compresses against the stent to compress the stent onto the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel, whereby the stent conforms to and assumes the shape of the stent-receiving portion of the mandrel; deflating the shaping balloon; withdrawing the mandrel from the pressure vessel lumen; and removing the stent from the mandrel.