Patent attributes
A stent crimping apparatus is provided which includes a crimping assembly adapted to crimp the stent, a clamp assembly configured to secure the medical device; and a control unit configured to control the movement of the crimp assembly. The clamp assembly includes a lower clamp device defining a seating groove formed and dimensioned to seat a portion of the medical device therein, and a retaining assembly having an elastomeric member. This elastomeric member defines a contacting groove oriented in an opposed manner proximate to at least a portion of the seating groove. The clamp assembly further includes an actuation mechanism associated with the retaining assembly and the lower clamp device such that operation thereof causes the retaining assembly to move between an opened condition and a closed condition. In the opened condition, the medical device can be positioned between the lower clamp device and the retaining assembly, and in the closed condition, retaining the medical device between the contacting groove of the elastomeric member and the seating groove of the lower clamp device.
