Machine Solutions, Inc.

Other

Tom Motsenbocker

Edward Goff

Daniel Kasprzyk

An apparatus for folding a pre-pleated catheter balloon comprises a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a folding head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The folding head includes at least three segments, each having a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and defining a central aperture The segment distal ends move closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the balloon is folded around the shaft substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub.

Balloon folding technology

An apparatus for folding a catheter balloon comprises a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a pleating head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The pleating head includes at least three segments, each having a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length. Each segment has a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a spiral-pleat dimension having at least three channels in communication with a central aperture. Also, the segment centerlines extend therefrom toward the segment distal ends and are oriented away from the central point. The segment distal ends move closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the balloon is disposed around a shaft substrate, aligned in the central aperture and pleated around the shaft substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub. A method of pleating and folding a catheter balloon is also disclosed.

An apparatus for measuring force, particularly the radial expansion force or hoop force associated with a stent or other article. The apparatus includes an article engagement mechanism. The article engaging mechanism includes at least one stationary plate member; at least one rotatable force collector member which is moveable in relation to the stationary member, and a plurality of force element segments, each having a predetermined wedge shape with a proximal end and a distal end. Each segment also has a distal point which is pivotally coupled to the stationary plate member and a proximal point which is pivotally coupled to the rotatable force collector member. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent a central aperture into which the article is placed. The segment distal ends move to engage the article upon rotation of the rotatable member in a predetermined direction. The apparatus further includes an actuator for rotating the rotatable force collector member; and a transducer communicatively connected to the actuator for detecting force associated with rotating the rotatable member, and hence the force elements to engage the article. A method of detecting force associated with an article is also disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing an article engagement mechanism having a design of the apparatus. An article is placed in the central aperture. An engaging force is applied to the article with the distal ends of the segments by rotating the force collector. The force required to rotate the force collector, and hence move the force elements against the article is used as a measure of radial expansion force of the article.

Radial expansion force measurement technology

An apparatus for crimping a stent by segmental radial compression, comprising a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a crimping head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The crimping head includes at least ten segments. The segments each have a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, the distal point being disposed on the centerline and the proximal point being disposed off the centerline, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a cylindrical dimension. Also, the segment centerlines extend therefrom toward the segment distal ends and are oriented away from the central point. The segment distal ends move closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the stent is disposed around a base substrate, aligned in the central aperture and crimped round the base substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub. A method of crimping a stent is also disclosed.

Stent crimping method

A swager for swaging marker bands to a medical catheter, comprises an article input mechanism, the article input mechanism having a first input roller assembly for receiving and conveying an article, a first sensor for detecting a predetermined aspect of the article, a second input roller assembly for receiving and conveying the article, a positioning roller assembly for precisely aligning the article with respect to the swaging head, and a second sensor all constructed and arranged in a streamwise orientation. The swager also has a radial compression swaging head with a central swaging aperture, the swaging head being aligned and communicatively coupled with the input mechanism to receive an input article from the article input mechanism and to swage the article, the swaging head being rotatable and including (i.) a unitary die plate including a plurality of die segments movably coupled to each other to provide a radial compressive force to the article disposed in the central swaging aperture; and (ii.) a closing plate pivotally coupled with respect to each other. The swager also has an output mechanism aligned and communicatively coupled with the swaging head to receive the swaged article. A swaging head and die are also disclosed.

Swaging technology

An apparatus for crimping a stent by segmental radial compression, comprising a stationary base member; a rotatable drive hub which is moveable in relation to the stationary base member; and a crimping head aligned with respect to the stationary base member and to the rotatable drive hub. The crimping head includes at least ten segments. The segments each have a proximal end and an angled distal end with at least one angled side face terminating in an edge of a predetermined length, each segment having a centerline between the proximal and distal ends, each segment having a proximal point and a distal point, the distal point being disposed on the centerline and the proximal point being disposed off the centerline, and the proximal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the stationary base member and the distal point being pivotally coupled by pins to the rotatable hub member. The segments are arranged so that the segment distal ends are disposed adjacent to and a predetermined distance away from a central point and defining a central aperture with a cylindrical dimension. Also, the segment centerlines extend therefrom toward the segment distal ends and are oriented away from the central point. The segment distal ends move closer to the central point upon rotation of the rotatable hub member in a predetermined direction, whereby the stent is disposed around a base substrate, aligned in the central aperture and crimped round the base substrate upon rotation of the rotatable hub.

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Flagstaff, AZ, United States of America

Tom Motsenbocker