Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement device such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter, and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter. and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: A stent delivery system to facilitate introduction and placement of a stent, including a catheter having an expandable distal portion constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state: a stent positioned around the distal portion of the catheter having a contracted condition and being expandable to an expanded condition, and being sized in the contracted condition to closely surround the catheter in the contracted state, the expandable distal portion of the catheter including a balloon within which there is included on the catheter shaft at least one body of a diameter larger than the catheter shaft to which the stent and balloon are fitted, as by crimping, for holding the stent in place until it is released therefrom by expansion of the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided having an expandable distal portion and balloon protector means comprising a first removable sleeve having a variable inner diameter to ease sliding the first sleeve over the balloon, and an optional second removable (outer) sleeve positioned over the inner sleeve, the second (outer) sleeve having a constrictive relationship with the first (inner) sleeve, said first and second sleeves being removed prior to use of the catheter.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter. and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided having an expandable distal portion and balloon protector means comprising a first removable sleeve having a variable inner diameter to ease sliding the first sleeve over the balloon, and an optional second removable (outer) sleeve positioned over the inner sleeve, the second (outer) sleeve having a constrictive relationship with the first (inner) sleeve, said first and second sleeves being removed prior to use of the catheter.

Abstract: An assembly and a method to deliver and deploy and inflation expandable stent is described. The assembly has a catheter with an annular collar is coaxially located on the catheter distal end. An expandable balloon, in a contracted state, is coaxially mounted over the collar at the catheter distal end. A stent, in a reduced configuration, is coaxially mounted on the balloon and conformed to the catheter and collar. At least one cup is coaxially mounted on the catheter distal end. The cup and collar are cooperate to retain the end portion of the reduced stent on the catheter. The balloon is inflated to expand the stent and release the stent from the cup or cups. The cup can be axially spaced from the collar. The cup can be fixed to the catheter or can be freely sliding on the catheter. The cup can overlie at least a portion of the collar. The collar can be shaped as a single member with the catheter.

Abstract: An apparatus for reducing a medical device such as a stent in size is formed of cooperating crimping dies which are joined via a crimping die moving device. As the cooperating dies are moved together, an inward force is applied to the medical device to reduce the medical device in size.

Abstract: An angioplasty and stent delivery system to facilitate introduction and placement of a stent, including a catheter having an expandable distal portion constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state: a stent positioned around the distal portion of the catheter having a contracted condition and being expandable to an expanded condition, and being sized in the contracted condition to closely surround the catheter in the contracted state, the expandable distal portion of the catheter including a balloon within which or over which there is included on a catheter shaft at least one axially movable or enlargeable body of a diameter larger than the catheter shaft to which the stent and balloon are fitted, as by crimping, for holding the stent in place until it is released therefrom by expansion of the balloon.

Abstract: A stent delivery system to facilitate introduction and placement of a stent, including a catheter having an expandable distal portion constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state: a stent positioned around the distal portion of the catheter having a contracted condition and being expandable to an expanded condition, and being sized in the contracted condition to closely surround the catheter in the contracted state, the expandable distal portion of the catheter including a balloon within which there is included on the catheter shaft at least one body of a diameter larger than the catheter shaft to which the stent and balloon are fitted, as by crimping, for holding the stent in place until it is released therefrom by expansion of the balloon.

Abstract: An angioplasty and stent delivery system to facilitate introduction and placement of a stent, including a catheter having an expandable distal portion constructed and arranged for expanding the outer diameter of the catheter from a contracted state to an expanded state: a stent positioned around the distal portion of the catheter having a contracted condition and being expandable to an expanded condition, and being sized in the contracted condition to closely surround the catheter in the contracted state, the expandable distal portion of the catheter including a balloon within which or over which there is included on a catheter shaft at least one axially movable or enlargeable body of a diameter larger than the catheter shaft to which the stent and balloon are fitted, as by crimping, for holding the stent in place until it is released therefrom by expansion of the balloon.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter. and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: A system/assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel, comprising a catheter having proximal and distal ends; a stent, inflation expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, such that the delivery diameter is reduced from the deployment diameter for conforming the stent to the catheter, such that the stent, in its delivery diameter, is coaxially mounted on the catheter near the catheter distal end; an expandable inflation means coaxially mounted on the catheter axially within the stent, for expansion of the stent from the delivery diameter to the deployment diameter upon application of fluid deployment pressure to the inflation means; and a securement component coaxially mounted on the catheter, axially within the expandable inflation means, the securement component designed and adapted to provide a securement pressure to the stent in the delivery diameter to maintain the stent in position on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided having an expandable distal portion and balloon protector means comprising a first removable sleeve having a variable inner diameter to ease sliding the first sleeve over the balloon, and an optional second removable (outer) sleeve positioned over the inner sleeve, the second (outer) sleeve having a constrictive relationship with the first (inner) sleeve, said first and second sleeves being removed prior to use of the catheter.

Abstract: A system/assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel, comprising a catheter having proximal and distal ends; a stent, inflation expandable from a delivery diameter to a deployment diameter, such that the delivery diameter is reduced from the deployment diameter for conforming the stent to the catheter, such that the stent, in its delivery diameter, is coaxially mounted on the catheter near the catheter distal end; an expandable inflation member coaxially mounted on the catheter axially within the stent, for expansion of the stent from the delivery diameter to the deployment diameter upon application of fluid deployment pressure to the inflation member; and a securement component coaxially mounted on the catheter, axially within the expandable inflation members, the securement component designed and adapted to provide a securement pressure to the stent in the delivery diameter to maintain the stent in position on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, an inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter. and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided having an expandable distal portion and balloon protector means comprising a first removable sleeve having a variable inner diameter to ease sliding the first sleeve over the balloon, and an optional second removable (outer) sleeve positioned over the inner sleeve, the second (outer) sleeve having a constrictive relationship with the first (inner) sleeve, said first and second sleeves being removed prior to use of the catheter.

Abstract: A balloon catheter is provided having an expandable distal portion and balloon protector means comprising a first removable sleeve having a variable inner diameter to ease sliding the first sleeve over the balloon, and an optional second removable (outer) sleeve positioned over the inner sleeve, the second (outer) sleeve having a constrictive relationship with the first (inner) sleeve, said first and second sleeves being removed prior to use of the catheter.

Abstract: An assembly for delivery and deployment of an inflation expandable stent within a vessel is comprised of a catheter, and inflation expandable stent, an expandable balloon, and a securement means such as a corrugated tube component or an expandable tube component. The tube component is mounted on the inner shaft beneath the balloon and provides increased securement to the stent in a reduced delivery diameter to maintain the stent on the catheter during delivery to the deployment site. The tube component is adhered to the inner shaft and has a plurality of ribs or is fluid expandable to no more than the delivery diameter, and may be comprised of more than one separately inflatable pouch expandable to provide the stent with a substrate seat with increased friction and to decrease the slack in stent recoil crimping. The assembly is used in a method for delivering and deploying a stent, and also adds safety when loading/crimping the stent onto a balloon.