Stent Holding Fixtures

Abstract

Disclosed are stent holding devices having a support mandrel and one or more stent retaining fixtures disposed on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a character identifier to facilitate tracking a stent mounted on the holding device. The retaining fixture may include a conical protrusion and a conical recess to allow any number of retaining fixtures to engage each other and be stacked on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may include a tubular member having a spiral cut that enables the diameter of the tubular member to be adjusted to allow for a frictional fit on the mandrel. The retaining fixture may have a Z-shaped or T-shaped structure configured to retain a stent. The stent retaining fixture may also have a filament for retaining a stent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stent holding device comprising:
 a support mandrel sized to fit in a stent lumen; and   a stent retaining element removably attached to the support mandrel, the stent retaining element including a character identifier.   
     
     
         2 . The stent holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of stent retaining elements, wherein each of the plurality of stent retaining elements includes a protruding surface that is sloped relative to a longitudinal axis of the support mandrel, and at least one of the plurality of stent retaining elements includes an aperture having a tapered recess shaped to receive the protruding surface of another one of the plurality of stent retaining elements. 
     
     
         3 . The stent holding device of  claim 2 , wherein the support mandrel extends through and frictionally engages the aperture of the at least one of the plurality of stent retaining elements. 
     
     
         4 . The stent holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the stent retaining element includes a tubular member including a first end, a second end, and a spiral cut formed in the tubular member and extending from the first end to the second end such that an inner diameter of the tubular member is expandable from a first size to a second size, the first size being less than an outer diameter of the support mandrel, the second size allowing for a friction fit between the tubular member and the support mandrel. 
     
     
         5 . The stent holding device of  claim 1 , further comprising a luer fitting attached to one end of the support mandrel. 
     
     
         6 . The stent holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the stent retaining element includes a first arm extending in a radial direction away from the support mandrel, a second arm extending in a different radial direction away from the support mandrel, and a stent contacting member disposed between and attached to the first and second arms, the stent contacting member formed of one or more filaments or formed of a flexible member. 
     
     
         7 . The stent holding device of  claim 1 , wherein the stent retaining element includes a Z-shaped structure including a first protruding portion extending in a radial direction away from the support mandrel and a second protruding portion extending in a different radial direction away from the support mandrel, the first and second protruding portions defining an outer diameter of the stent retaining element, the outer diameter sized such that the first and second protruding portions are capable of engaging one or more luminal surfaces of the stent lumen. 
     
     
         8 . A stent holding device comprising:
 a support mandrel sized to fit in a stent lumen; and   a plurality of fixtures, each including a protruding surface that is sloped relative to a longitudinal axis of the support mandrel, at least one of the plurality of fixtures includes an aperture having a tapered recess shaped to receive the protruding surface of another one of the plurality of fixtures.   
     
     
         9 . The stent holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the support mandrel extends into and frictionally engages the aperture of the at least one of the plurality of fixtures. 
     
     
         10 . The stent holding device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one of the plurality of stent retaining fixtures includes a character identifier.