Method for verifying position on an angioplasty balloon

Abstract

A monitoring system and data archive system for a stent crimping process. The information concerning the crimped stent is used in deciding whether the stent is acceptable for insertion into the body cavity of a human or animal.

1 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . A method of making a record of a stent crimping process comprising:
 a. providing a stent;   b. crimping the stent;   c. monitoring said crimping of said stent during and after said crimping of said stent; and,   d. recording said monitoring on an archiveable media.   
     
     
         45 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring said stent prior to insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent during insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent after insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent prior to crimping said stent, monitoring said stent during said crimping of said stent, monitoring said stent after said crimping of said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent prior to crimping said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent during crimping said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent after crimping said stent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         46 . The method as defined in  claim 45 , wherein said step of monitoring includes a monitoring device, said monitoring device includes a camera, a video recorder, a microscope, a visual or electromagnetic wave imaging device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         47 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , wherein said archiveable media includes printed or developed material, storage media, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         48 . The method as defined in  claim 46 , wherein said archiveable media includes printed or developed material, storage media, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         49 . The method as defined in  claim 48 , wherein said storage media includes a RFID card or tag, a ROM, an IC plate or board, a Touch Memory button, a hard disk, a DVD, a memory stick, a CD, film, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, a zip disk, the body of said stent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         50 . The method as defined in  claim 48 , wherein said printed material includes a bar code. 
     
     
         51 . The method as defined in  claim 44 , including the step of monitoring and analyzing a condition of said crimped stent. 
     
     
         52 . The method as defined in  claim 51 , wherein said step of monitoring and analyzing includes i) analyzing said archiveable information associated with said crimped stent, and ii) determining whether said crimped stent is acceptable for insertion into a body cavity based on a visual inspection of said crimped stent and a review of said archiveable information. 
     
     
         53 . A method of making a record of a stent crimping process comprising:
 a. providing a stent;   b. providing a crimping system that crimps said stent;   c. providing a monitoring device positioned at least closely adjacent to said crimping system, said monitoring device designed to at least partially capture at least one event relating to a crimping of said stent and to save said event on an archiveable media;   d. crimping the stent;   e. monitoring said crimping of said stent during and after said crimping of said stent; and,   f. recording said monitoring on said archiveable media.   
     
     
         54 . The method as defined in  claim 53 , wherein said step of monitoring includes monitoring said stent prior to insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent during insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent after insertion of an angioplasty balloon into said body of said stent, monitoring said stent prior to crimping said stent, monitoring said stent during said crimping of said stent, monitoring said stent after said crimping of said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent prior to crimping said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent during crimping said stent, monitoring the condition of a coating on said stent after crimping said stent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         55 . The method as defined in  claim 54 , wherein said step of monitoring includes a monitoring device, said monitoring device includes a camera, a video recorder, a microscope, a visual or electromagnetic wave imaging device, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         56 . The method as defined in  claim 55 , wherein said archiveable media includes printed or developed material, storage media, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         57 . The method as defined in  claim 56 , wherein said storage media includes a RFID card or tag, a ROM, an IC plate or board, a Touch Memory button, a hard disk, a DVD, a memory stick, a CD, film, a floppy disk, a magnetic tape, a zip disk, the body of said stent, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         58 . The method as defined in  claim 56 , wherein said printed material includes a bar code. 
     
     
         59 . The method as defined in  claim 56 , including the step of monitoring and analyzing a condition of said crimped stent. 
     
     
         60 . The method as defined in  claim 59 , wherein said step of monitoring and analyzing includes i) analyzing said archiveable information associated with said crimped stent, and ii) determining whether said crimped stent is acceptable for insertion into a body cavity based on a visual inspection of said crimped stent and a review of said archiveable information. 
     
     
         61 . The method as defined in  claim 53 , wherein said archiveable data record includes information on a) a shape of the stent prior to crimping, b) a shape of the stent during crimping, c) a shape of said stent after crimping, d) a position of an angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent prior to said crimping, e) a position of an angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent during said crimping, f) a position of angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent after said crimping, g) a condition of a coating on said stent prior to said crimping, h) a condition of a coating on said stent during said crimping, i) a condition of a coating on said stent after said crimping, j) a condition of said body of said stent prior to said crimping, k) a condition of said body of said stent during said crimping, l) a condition of said body of said stent after said crimping, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         62 . The method as defined in  claim 60 , wherein said archiveable data record includes information on a) a shape of the stent prior to crimping, b) a shape of the stent during crimping, c) a shape of said stent after crimping, d) a position of an angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent prior to said crimping, e) a position of an angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent during said crimping, f) a position of an angioplasty balloon in said body of said stent after said crimping, g) a condition of a coating on said stent prior to said crimping, h) a condition of a coating on said stent during said crimping, i) a condition of a coating on said stent after said crimping, j) a condition of said body of said stent prior to said crimping, k) a condition of said body of said stent during said crimping, l) a condition of said body of said stent after said crimping, or combinations thereof.