Method of transferring a stent device from a crimping head to an outer sheath of a stent device delivery system

摘要

A method of moving a stent device into an outer sheath of a stent: device delivery system is disclosed. The stent device (4) is Crimped into a collapsed configuration onto the loading mandrel (6). The loading mandrel is pushed towards the outer sheath as the engaging surfaces (10) resist relative longitudinal movement between the stent device and the loading mandrel to move the stent device into the outer sheath (16). Upon entering the outer sheath, the stent device expands radially until radially constrained by the outer sheath.

主权项

1. A method of moving a stent device into an outer sheath of a stent device delivery system, the method comprising:
providing a stent device defining a longitudinal axis and having a lumen extending longitudinally therethough; providing a loading mandrel; crimping the stent device into a collapsed configuration onto the loading mandrel with a force to resiliently deform an inner surface of the stent device in a radial direction to provide engaging surfaces resisting longitudinal movement of the stent device relative to the loading mandrel, the engaging surfaces longitudinally distributed along a full extent of the inner surface of the stent device; pushing the loading mandrel towards the outer sheath as the engaging surfaces resist relative longitudinal movement between the stent device and the loading mandrel to move the stent device into the outer sheath; and wherein, upon entering the outer sheath, the stent device expands radially until radially constrained by the outer sheath and the resiliently deformed inner surface resiliently reforms while maintaining contact between an outer surface of the loading mandrel and the inner surface of the stent device as the loading mandrel moves the stent device longitudinally into the outer sheath.