Stent crimping device

Abstract

A system for crimping a prosthesis is disclosed, comprising a plurality of wheels. Each wheel has an outer circumferential surface configured to be placed in contact with the prosthesis. When in contact with the prosthesis, each wheel is configured to be rotated, thereby to apply a radially inward force on the prosthesis so as to reduce the diameter of the prosthesis. More than one set of wheels may be provided, so that the prosthesis is crimped first by one set of wheels, then by a subsequent set of wheels.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . A method of crimping a prosthesis having an elongate axis, comprising:
 positioning a plurality of wheels about the prosthesis so that an outer circumferential surface of each wheel is in contact with the prosthesis;   moving the prosthesis along the elongate axis;   rotating each of the wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby reducing the diameter of the prosthesis;   causing a first number of the wheels to no longer be in contact with the prosthesis to leave a first remainder of wheels in contact with the prosthesis;   rotating each of the first remainder of wheels while maintaining contact between each of the first remaining wheels and the prosthesis, thereby further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further including:
 causing a second number of wheels from the first remainder of wheels to no longer be in contact with the prosthesis, to leave a second remainder of wheels in contact with the prosthesis;   rotating each of the second remainder of wheels while maintaining contact between each of the second remainder of wheels and the prosthesis, thereby yet further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  wherein the plurality of wheels is nine in number, the first number of wheels is three, and the second number of wheels is three. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein moving the prosthesis along the elongate axis includes manipulating a mandrel upon which the prosthesis is mounted. 
     
     
         9 . A system for crimping a prosthesis having an elongate axis comprising:
 a first plurality of wheels, wherein:   each wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle;   each wheel has an outer circumferential surface having a first width;   the wheels are configured to be positionable in relation to each other such that a diameter of each wheel radiates outwardly from a central axis, whereby the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels define a first space that includes the central axis, the first space being configured to receive the prosthesis during crimping; and   a second plurality of wheels wherein:   each wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle;   each wheel has an outer circumferential surface having a second width;   the wheels are configured to be positionable in relation to each other such that a diameter of each wheel radiates outwardly from the central axis, whereby the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels define a second space that includes the central axis, the second space being configured to receive the prosthesis during crimping; and   wherein the first width is greater than the second width.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the first plurality is three in number. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second plurality is three in number. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of each wheel of the first plurality has a first curvature across the first width. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the outer circumferential surface of each wheel of the second plurality has a second curvature across the second width. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the second curvature is greater than the first curvature. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein all the axles lie in a single common plane. 
     
     
         16 . A method of crimping a prosthesis having an elongate axis, comprising:
 positioning a first plurality of wheels about the prosthesis so that an outer circumferential surface of each wheel is in contact with the prosthesis, each surface having a first width;   moving the prosthesis along the elongate axis;   rotating each of the wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby reducing the diameter of the prosthesis;   removing all of the first plurality of wheels from being in contact with the prosthesis;   positioning a second plurality of wheels about the prosthesis so that an outer circumferential surface of each of the second plurality is in contact with the prosthesis, each surface having a second width less than the first width;   moving the prosthesis along the elongate axis;   rotating each of the second plurality of wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first plurality is three in number and the second plurality is three in number. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the first surface has a first curvature across the first width, and the second surface has a second curvature across the second width, the second curvature being greater than the first curvature. 
     
     
         19 . A system for crimping a prosthesis comprising:
 a first plurality of wheels, wherein:   each wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle, and each axle of the first plurality lies in the same first plane;   each wheel has an outer circumferential surface;   the wheels are positioned in relation to each other such that a diameter of each wheel radiates outwardly from a central axis, whereby the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels define a first space that includes the central axis, the first space being configured to receive the prosthesis during crimping; and   a second plurality of wheels wherein:   each wheel is rotatably mounted on an axle, and each axle of the second plurality lies in the same second plane, the second plane being spaced apart from the first plane by a distance;   each wheel has an outer circumferential surface;   the wheels are positioned in relation to each other such that a diameter of each wheel radiates outwardly from the central axis, whereby the outer circumferential surfaces of the wheels define a second space that includes the central axis, the second space being configured to receive the prosthesis during crimping;   wherein the first space is larger than the second space,   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein each of the first plurality of wheels has a first width, and each of the second plurality of wheels has a second width, wherein the second width is smaller than the first width. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the first plurality is three in number. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the second plurality is three in number. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the wheels are mounted on the axles such that the distance between the first plane and the second plane is capable of being adjusted. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the wheels are mounted on the axles such that the distance between each wheel and the central axis is capable of being adjusted. 
     
     
         25 . A method of crimping a prosthesis having an elongate axis, comprising:
 moving the prosthesis along its axis between a first plurality of wheels so that an outer circumferential surface of each of the first plurality of wheels is in contact with the prosthesis;   rotating each of the wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby reducing the diameter of the prosthesis by a first amount;   passing the prosthesis from between the first plurality of wheels to between a second plurality of wheels, the second plurality of wheels being situated adjacent the first plurality;   moving the prosthesis between the second plurality of wheels so that an outer circumferential surface of each of the second plurality of wheels is in contact with the prosthesis;   rotating each of the second plurality of wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis by a second amount.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , further including, after further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis by a second amount, passing the prosthesis into a cylindrical sheath. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , further including, passing the prosthesis from between the second plurality of wheels to between a third plurality of wheels, the third plurality of wheels being situated adjacent the second plurality,
 moving the prosthesis between the third plurality of wheels so that an outer circumferential surface of each of the third plurality of wheels is in contact with the prosthesis;   rotating each of the third plurality of wheels while maintaining contact between the wheels and the prosthesis, thereby further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis by a third amount.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further including, after further reducing the diameter of the prosthesis by a third amount, passing the prosthesis into a cylindrical sheath.