Tapered loading system for implantable medical devices

1. A loading system for compressing and loading an implantable medical device into a device chamber of a medical device delivery system, said loading system comprising:

an elongate holding chamber having proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, a proximal end, a distal end, a lengthwise axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and a wall having an internal surface defining an interior chamber having a first substantially uniform diameter in the proximal portion, a second substantially uniform diameter in the distal portion, the first substantially uniform diameter being greater than the second substantially uniform diameter and the intermediate portion having a diameter that tapers from the first substantially uniform diameter to the second substantially uniform diameter, the proximal end defining a proximal opening in communication with the interior chamber in the proximal portion, the proximal portion having a length extending along the lengthwise axis;

an intraluminal medical device having compressed and uncompressed configurations, an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end, the intraluminal medical device disposed at least partially in at least one of the intermediate and proximal portions of the elongate holding chamber and contacting the internal surface of the elongate holding chamber such that the intraluminal medical device proximal end is oriented toward the proximal end of the elongate holding chamber and the intraluminal medical device distal end is oriented toward the distal end of the elongate holding chamber;

a plunger extending through the proximal opening and partially disposed in the proximal portion of the elongate holding chamber and capable of slideable movement therein; and

first and second pushers connected to the plunger, each of the first and second pushers disposed in the elongate holding chamber, defining a pusher distal end that receives a portion of the intraluminal medical device, and adapted to apply tension to the intraluminal medical device upon distally directed axial movement of the pusher, the first pusher defining a first slot adapted to receive a portion of the intraluminal medical device.

2. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein the first and second pushers are disposed substantially opposite to each other relative to a lengthwise axis of the holding chamber.

3. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein the pusher distal end of the first pusher defines the first slot.

4. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein the pusher distal end of the first pusher defines the first slot; and

wherein the pusher distal end of the second pusher defines a second slot adapted to receive a portion of the intraluminal medical device.

5. The loading system of claim 1 , wherein the intraluminal medical device comprises an intraluminal valve device.

6. The loading system of claim 5 , wherein the intraluminal valve device includes one or more tissue-derived components.

7. The loading system of claim 6 , wherein the intraluminal valve device comprises one of a prosthetic heart valve and a prosthetic venous valve.

8. The loading system of claim 1 ,

wherein the second pusher defines a second slot adapted to receive a portion of the intraluminal medical device.

9. A loading system for compressing and loading an implantable medical device into a device chamber of a medical device delivery system, said loading system comprising:

an elongate holding chamber having proximal, intermediate, and distal portions, a proximal end, a distal end, a lengthwise axis extending from the proximal end to the distal end, and a wall having an internal surface defining an interior chamber having a first substantially uniform diameter in the proximal portion, a second substantially uniform diameter in the distal portion, the first substantially uniform diameter being greater than the second substantially uniform diameter and the intermediate portion having a diameter that tapers from the first substantially uniform diameter to the second substantially uniform diameter, the proximal end defining a proximal opening in communication with the interior chamber in the proximal portion, the proximal portion having a length extending along the lengthwise axis;

an intraluminal medical device having compressed and uncompressed configurations and including one or more tissue-derived components, an intraluminal medical device proximal end and an intraluminal medical device distal end, the intraluminal medical device disposed at least partially in at least one of the intermediate and proximal portions of the elongate holding chamber and contacting the internal surface of the elongate holding chamber such that the intraluminal medical device proximal end is oriented toward the proximal end of the elongate holding chamber and the intraluminal medical device distal end is oriented toward the distal end of the elongate holding chamber;

a plunger extending through the proximal opening and partially disposed in the proximal portion of the elongate holding chamber and capable of slideable movement therein; and

first and second pushers connected to the plunger, each of the first and second pushers disposed in the elongate holding chamber, and adapted to apply tension to the intraluminal medical device upon distally directed axial movement of the pusher, the first pusher defining a first slot adapted to receive a portion of the intraluminal medical device.