COLLAPSING STRUCTURE FOR REDUCING THE DIAMETER OF A STENT END

摘要

A collapsing structure for collapsing the crowns of a stent and method of use thereof are described. The collapsing structure comprises an inner filament engaged to an outer filament. The outer filament is interwoven through at least a portion of the crowns of the stent end so as to create a plurality of loops. The inner filament is interwoven through at least a portion of the loops of the outer filament. Pulling on the inner filament causes the loops of the outer filament to be pulled radially inward, thereby pulling the crowns towards each other to collapse the stent end.