The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 01, 2000
Filed:
May. 12, 1999
Richard Layne, Phoenix, AZ (US);
Impra, Inc., a subsidiary of C.R. Bard, Inc., Tempe, AZ (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for loading a stent onto or into a catheter. A flexible sterile sleeve is provided to encase the stent as it is pulled through a loading device. The loading device is a simple design utilizing a tapered passageway. The passageway has first diameter at a proximal end which tapers to a second diameter, forming a funnel. The passageway continues at the second diameter forming a tube. The sleeved stent is pulled through the loading device from the proximal end to the distal end, smoothly compressing the stent. Depending on the type of stent and catheter being used, the stent is either crimped onto the catheter as it is pulled through the funnel, or is loaded into a catheter positioned at the distal end of the loading device. The sleeve acts to minimize the frictional forces to which the stent is subjected and to eliminate the longitudinal force that the stent would be subjected to if pushed or pulled directly. The sleeve may be close-ended to provide an additional sterility barrier about the stent.