Method and apparatus for compressing/loading stent-valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10682228-B2
Application number	US-201916371214-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 1, 2019
Priority date	Sep 16, 2013
Publication date	Jun 16, 2020
Grant date	Jun 16, 2020

Abstract

Apparatus ( 40 ) for compressing a transcatheter cardiac stent-valve ( 10 ) comprises: a first compressor stage ( 100 ) including a hollow channel ( 42 ) with a tapered interior surface configured for compressing a stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent-valve within the channel; and a second compressor stage ( 102 ) comprising a crimper for compressing a portion of the stent-valve without longitudinal advancement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus configured to compress a cardiac stent-valve for loading into a delivery catheter, the apparatus comprising:
a first compressor stage for compressing a stent-valve,
wherein the first compressor stage comprises a hollow channel and an advancing member
wherein the first compressor stage is configured for progressively compressing the stent-valve in response to, or in association with, longitudinal advancement of an advancing member against the stent-valve within the hollow channel; and
a second compressor stage coupled or couplable to the first compressor stage and configured to further compress a portion of the stent-valve after passing through the first compressor stage and without advancement of the stent-valve within the second compressor stage,
wherein the first compressor stage and second compressor stage are operated by respective rotary actuators that are rotatable about a longitudinal axis of the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second compressor stage is releasably coupled at, or to be at, an exit of the first compressor stage.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second compressor stage comprises a plurality of movable elements.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein a plurality of movable elements are assembled around a portion of a delivery catheter to define a tubular shape; and further comprising at least one retainer configured to retain the plurality of movable elements in the tubular shape.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one retainer comprises at least one threaded nut, and/or a supporting overtube.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second compressor stage comprises a screw threaded actuator for actuating the second compressor stage.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the advancing member of the first compressor stage is configured to apply a longitudinal pushing force from radially outside the hollow channel to the stent-valve within the hollow channel.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the advancing member comprises a ring from which plural limbs project inwardly, the limbs sliding in slots through a wall of the hollow channel.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first compressor stage comprises shaped interior surface configured to progressively compress the stent-valve in response to longitudinal advancement of the stent valve within the hollow channel.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the shaped interior surface has a diameter that reduces progressively along the longitudinal axis of the channel in a direction towards an exit.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising at least one loading tube removably positionable at the exit of the second compressor stage,
wherein the loading tube has a bore therein which is equal to or smaller than an exit diameter of the second compressor stage.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the loading tube comprises a plurality of segments that are assemblable to define a tubular shape.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , further comprising a retainer configured to retain the plurality of segments in the tubular shape.

Assignees

• Symetis Sa

Inventors

• Mantanus Luc
• Lombardi Fabien
• Simonin Pierre
• Biadillah Youssef
• Hefti Jean-Luc
• Delaloye Stephane

Classifications

• A61F2250/0018

  differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility · CPC title

• A61F2220/0008

  Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body · CPC title

• A61F2/9522

  Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument · CPC title

• A61F2/2436 Primary

  Deployment by retracting a sheath · CPC title

• A61F2/2418

  Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents · CPC title