STENT COMPRESSION METHOD

摘要

A stent compression method for particular use in pre-surgical securing and conforming of a vascular stent upon an angioplasty balloon. One variation of the stent compression method comprises inflating an agioplasty balloon inside a vascular stent in order to secure the vascular stent upon the balloon; applying uniform compression pressure around the balloon/stent unit; and adjusting the internal balloon pressure and the compression pressure so that the balloon/stent unit is compressed. A pressure chamber with an elastic cylindrical membrane mounted inside the chamber may be used to provide the compression pressure. The inflated balloon provides the balancing pressure from inside the stent. The maintenance of internal balloon pressure during the stent compression process may provide uniform distribution of pressure along the stent and even radial compression rate around the circumferential surface of the stent.