Abstract: A stent compression and crimping system includes a sheath having a proximal end, a distal end comprising a removable funnel, and a lumen extending between the proximal and distal ends. The system further includes a guidewire extending through the sheath's lumen. The system also includes a plurality of elongate wires. Each wire has a proximal end attached to a collar, a distal free end, and a wire body extending between the proximal end and the distal end. The plurality of elongate wires is collectively disposed about the guidewire in an operative configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for delivering an intraluminal prosthesis within a patient's body includes an inner sheath having longitudinally spaced proximal and distal inner sheath ends, and a nose cone connected to the distal inner sheath end. An intraluminal prosthesis sheath has longitudinally spaced proximal and distal intraluminal prosthesis sheath ends and a hollow intraluminal prosthesis sheath bore at least partially surrounding the inner sheath. A stopper is connected to the inner sheath at a location longitudinally spaced from the nose cone and extends radially between the inner sheath and the intraluminal prosthesis sheath. An annular intraluminal prosthesis space is defined radially between the intraluminal prosthesis sheath and the inner sheath and longitudinally between the stopper and the nose cone. A method for delivering an intraluminal prosthesis within a patient's body is also described.

Abstract: A method for compressing an intraluminal prosthesis provides a mesh tube having first and second longitudinally spaced tube ends and a hollow tube bore located therebetween. The intraluminal prosthesis is completely inserted into the hollow tube bore. The tube is stretched in a longitudinal dimension, which reduces the tube in a radial dimension and causes the intraluminal prosthesis to radially compress.