Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for introducing stents into intravascular guiding catheters. The introducer includes clamps to retain the introducer in a desired position on the stent delivery catheter prior to deployment, as well as a tubular body extending from the clamp that preferably protects the distal end of the stent delivery catheter prior to deployment. The clamp is movable to selectively clamp or release the shaft of the stent delivery catheter. In addition, the clamp includes a guidewire channel that clamps the guidewire in a fixed position relative to the clamp while simultaneously releasing the shaft of the stent delivery catheter to allow the stent to be advanced over the guidewire. These operations can preferably be accomplished by a single operator.

Abstract: Crimping sleeves, devices and methods of crimping stents onto delivery devices are disclosed. The stent is located within a channel formed by a crimping sleeve including a set of crimping elements located about the channel. The crimping elements are connected by rotatable links such that compressing at least two opposing crimping elements together results in a reduction in the diameter of the channel and crimping of a stent located therein on a delivery device located therein.

Abstract: A stent mounting device and method of using the device comprising a disposable device for holding a stent, into which a delivery system such as a balloon catheter can be inserted, and the stent crimped onto the delivery system, after which the delivery system and mounted stent are removed from the device. A stent is carried in a channel formed by four corner segments of four co-axillay arranged spaced blocks. Two adjacent blocks are elastically mounted in each of two parallel, opposed, cooperating actuators. The corner segments form an elongated channel sized to retain a conventional stent. Two elastic rods are placed between opposite blocks in opposite actuators. When the actuators are pressed together the rods are deformed to provide pressure transverse to the line of pressure, so that the cross sectional area of the channel is decreased in both directions, crimping the stent uniformly onto a delivery system.

Abstract: A device for mounting a stent on a delivery system such as a balloon catheter and methods of making and using the device. Typically, the device includes an elongated, preferably transparent body having an axial aperture and two axial grooves in the outside surface. A stent is located in the axial aperture, preferably in a correspondingly configured recess. A sleeve of low friction, preferably transparent, material is situated inside the stent with the stent in tension on the sleeve. To mount the stent on the a balloon catheter or the like, the balloon is inserted into the sleeve with the balloon preferably in compression. The position of the balloon within the device is visible through the sleeve and body. The sleeve is pulled out of the aperture, then the body is split along the grooves and removed.