| 摘要 |
<p>A stent crimping tool (22) for firmly and uniformly crimping a stent (10) onto a balloon catheter (11) is constructed from a crimping section (24) holding the stent (10) and the balloon catheter (11) therein, wherein the crimping is actuated by a shaft (28) having an input end (40) and an output end (44), engaging the crimping section at the output end (44). The shaft (28) has a detent (34) formed into the input end (40). A gripping member (36) has an internal cavity (42) to receive the input end (40) and includes a hole proximated to the shaft (28), wherein a ball bearing (32) and a compression spring (30) are located within the hole (38) to bias the ball bearing (32) toward the shaft (28) and to engage the detent (34). When a torque is applied to the gripping member (36), it is transmitted through the ball bearing (32) to the shaft (28); if the torque exceeds a predetermined magnitude, it overcomes the force of the spring (30) on the ball bearing (32) causing the bearing to slide out of the detent (34) thereby disconnecting the applied torque from the shaft. The crimping section can be a rubber tube having a lumen holding the stent and catheter. When the shaft (28) compresses the rubber tube as it advances, the lumen collapses and crimps the stent onto the catheter. In another embodiment, the crimping section is a coiled filament suspended at both ends and having an axial space holding the stent and catheter. Rotating the shaft twists the filament which in turn constricts and crimps the stent onto the catheter.</p> |
