Abstract: Methods of heating and cooling during a crimping process are disclosed. One method includes providing a cooling source to cool the stent and/or drug eluting coating of the stent while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and providing a heating source to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon. Another method includes introducing a cooling fluid through a passage in one or more of the plurality of crimping elements of the crimping apparatus to cool the crimping elements while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and introducing a heating fluid through the elongate shaft of the balloon catheter to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon.

Abstract: Methods of heating and cooling during a crimping process are disclosed. One method includes providing a cooling source to cool the stent and/or drug eluting coating of the stent while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and providing a heating source to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon. Another method includes introducing a cooling fluid through a passage in one or more of the plurality of crimping elements of the crimping apparatus to cool the crimping elements while crimping the stent onto the balloon, and introducing a heating fluid through the elongate shaft of the balloon catheter to heat the balloon while crimping the stent onto the balloon.

Abstract: A balloon catheter, and method of making the same, which includes an elongated shaft, and an expandable member affixed to the distal portion of the elongated shaft such that a section of the elongated shaft extends through at least a portion of the expandable member. The elongated shaft includes a radiopaque portion that includes a radiopaque material disposed in a non-metallic coating material. In some embodiments, the radiopaque portion is positioned adjacent the expandable member such that the position of at least a portion of the expandable member (or a stent disposed thereon) can be identified or determined within the vasculature in which it is deployed using an appropriate imaging technique, such as fluoroscopy. Additionally, in some embodiments, the radiopaque portion can define one or more raised areas on the elongated shaft adjacent the expandable member. In such embodiments, the raised area or areas in the radiopaque portion can function as mounting bodies for mounting a stent.