DEVICES AND METHODS FOR COLLAPSING PROSTHETIC HEART VALVES

摘要

A crimping tool (100) for use with a collapsible prosthetic (200) valve having a stent frame (202) with a plurality of cell openings (222), and a valve structure (234) assembled in the stent frame. The crimping tool includes a plurality of resilient tines (124) defining an array around a longitudinal axis of the crimping tool. The array has a first cross section in an expanded state and a second cross section less than the first cross section in a collapsed state. The plurality of tines are adapted to intersect the plurality of cell openings in an assembled position of the crimping tool on the prosthetic valve to prevent pinching of the valve structure by the stent frame as the prosthetic valve is collapsed.