Crimping device for loading stents and prosthetic heart valves

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11464659-B2
Application number	US-202016927238-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 13, 2020
Priority date	Jun 6, 2017
Publication date	Oct 11, 2022
Grant date	Oct 11, 2022

Abstract

Systems and devices for crimping a medical device and associated methods are disclosed herein. A crimping device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present technology can include, for example, a frame including a stationary plate, a movable member, and a plurality of blades arranged to form a channel and each including a pin that projects through a slot on the movable member and a corresponding slot on the stationary plate. The crimping device can be actuated to move the movable member relative to the stationary plate to drive the pins along paths defined by the slots to thereby drive the blades radially inward to crimp a medical device positioned within the channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A crimping device comprising:
a plate defining a plurality of first slots;
a movable member defining a plurality of second slots, wherein individual first slots are aligned with a portion of a corresponding individual second slot;
a plurality of blades arranged to form a channel having a central axis extending therethrough, wherein the movable member is disposed between the plate and the plurality of blades, wherein:
each blade includes a pin projecting from a radially outer end portion of the blade, and
each pin extends through one of the individual first slots and the corresponding individual second slot; and

an actuator configured to move the movable member relative to the plate to drive the plurality of pins along a path defined by the first and second slots such that the plurality of blades move radially inward to decrease a diameter of the channel.

2. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the radially inward movement of the plurality of blades is configured to reduce a diameter of a medical device positioned within the channel.

3. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein each blade of the plurality of blades includes a first side and a second side facing away from the first side, the plate is a first plate facing the first sides of the blades, the movable member is a first movable member facing the first sides of the blades, and each pin is a first pin on the first side of each blade, and wherein the crimping device further comprises:
a second plate facing the second side of the blades, the second plate having a plurality of third slots;
a second movable member facing the second side of the blades, the second movable member having a plurality of fourth slots,
wherein:
each blade includes a second pin projecting from the radially outer end portion on the second side of the blade,
each second pin extends through one of the third slots and a corresponding one of the fourth slots, and
the actuator is further configured to move the second movable member relative to the second plate to actuate the plurality of blades to vary the diameter of the channel.

4. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the second slots define an arcuate path with a first end and a second end spaced closer to the channel than the first end.

5. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the diameter of the channel varies along a length the central axis.

6. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of blades have inner surfaces that define the channel, and wherein the inner surfaces are shaped such that the channel has a generally funnel shape.

7. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein:
the movable member has a first position in which the channel has a maximum diameter and a second position in which the channel has a smaller diameter, and
the pins are positioned radially farther from the central axis in the first position than in the second position.

8. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the first slots define a straight path that extends radially away from the central axis.

9. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the second slots have a length that is longer than a length of the first slots.

10. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the first slots and second slots are substantially equally spaced angularly around the central axis.

11. The crimping device of claim 1 , further comprising a connector coupled to the movable member and having a threaded hole extending therethrough, wherein:
the movable member is a rotatable member,
the actuator device is a threaded shaft and extends through the threaded hole of the connector, and
wherein, to actuate the rotatable member, the actuator is configured to rotate the threaded shaft about a longitudinal axis of the shaft such that the connector moves along the shaft.

12. A system comprising:
a crimping device comprising:
a plurality of blades arranged to define a channel having a central axis extending therethrough, and
an actuator configured to cause the plurality of blades to move radially inward to decrease a diameter of the channel;

a holder configured to hold a medical device, the holder being removably coupled to the crimping device and being configured to insert the medical device into the channel; and
a tray defining a reservoir that is configured to receive the crimping device therein.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein, when the plurality of blades are movable by the actuator from a first position in which the channel has a first cross-sectional dimension to a second position in which the channel has a second cross-sectional dimension smaller than the first cross-sectional dimension.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of blades are configured to continuously compress a prosthetic heart valve device disposed in the channel as the blades move from the first position to the second position.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the reservoir is configured to hold a chilled liquid, and wherein the liquid fills the channel when the crimping device is positioned within the reservoir.

16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the tray includes an aperture extending through the tray to the reservoir, wherein the channel of the crimping device is accessible via the aperture to permit a prosthetic heart valve device to be positioned within the channel.

17. A method for reducing a size of a medical device for loading into a delivery capsule, the method comprising:
positioning the medical device within a channel of a crimping device, wherein:
the channel is defined by a plurality of blades arranged around a central axis of the channel,
each blade includes a pin projecting from a radially outer end portion of the blade, and
each pin projects through a corresponding first slot in a plate and a corresponding second slot in a movable member positioned between the plate and the blades, wherein the plate comprises a plurality of first slots and the movable member comprises a plurality of second slots; and

moving the movable member relative to the plate to move the pins and drive the blades radially inwardly from a first position to a second position to reduce a cross-sectional dimension of the channel, thereby reducing an outer diameter of the medical device.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising submerging the crimping device in a liquid such that the medical device is submerged when positioned within the channel.

19. The system of claim 12 , wherein the crimping device comprises:
a frame comprising a plate defining a plurality of first slots; and
a movable member defining a plurality of second slots, wherein the movable member is movable with respect to the plate,
wherein each blade of the plurality of blades comprises a pin projecting from a radially outer end portion and extending through one of the first slots and a corresponding one of the second slots, and
wherein the actuator is configured to move the movable member to drive the plurality of pins along a path defined by the first and second slots such that the plurality of blades move radially inward from a first position to a second position to decrease the diameter of the channel, wherein the first slots are configured to maintain relative position between the blades as the blades move between the first and second positions.

Assignees

• Twelve Inc

Inventors

• Fox Jason
• Trask David

Classifications

• H01R43/04

  for forming connections by deformation, e.g. crimping tool · CPC title

• A61F2240/001

  Designing or manufacturing processes · CPC title

• A61F2/9522

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

• A61F2/958

  Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts · CPC title

• B23P11/025

  by using heat or cold · CPC title