Methods and devices for crimping self-expanding devices
Described here are devices and methods for crimping self-expanding devices. The crimping devices may be useful for crimping a variety of different self-expanding devices (whether such devices are biodegradable or bio-durable). The crimping devices may have crimping members to engage the self-expanding device to reduce the device from an expanding configuration to an unexpanded configuration. The crimping member may comprise or include a suture, wire, ribbon, guiding hoop, pusher, prong, holding bar, balloon, jaws, combinations thereof, or the like. The crimping devices may also include or comprise a holding structure to hold the self-expanding device in an unexpanded or expanded configuration.
1. A crimping device for crimping a self-expanding device having an unexpanded configuration and an expanded configuration, the crimping device comprising:
a holding structure, the holding structure comprising a hoop configured to hold therein the self-expanding device in its expanded configuration, the hoop comprising at least one passage unit; and
a crimping member positioned in the holding structure, wherein a first end portion of the crimping member extends through the at least one passage unit, wherein movement of the first end portion of the crimping member through the at least one passage unit reduces the amount of crimping member in the holding structure and causes the crimping device to reduce the self-expanding device to its unexpanded configuration.
2. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the self-expanding device is biodegradable.
3. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the crimping member comprises a ribbon.
4. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the passage unit comprises a slot.
5. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein a second end portion of the crimping member remains in the interior of the holding structure during movement of the first end portion through the at least one passage unit.
6. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the crimping member is configured to wrap around the self-expanding device and sit between the self-expanding device and the holding structure.
7. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the holding structure comprises at least two separate components that together form the holding structure.
8. The crimping device of claim 1 , wherein the holding structure defines an aperture through which the self-expanding device may be retrieved when the self-expanding device is in its unexpanded configuration.