Crimping device

Abstract

A crimping device for a prosthetic heart valve can comprise an annular outer frame and an inner frame extending through the outer frame, the inner frame comprising first and second axial end portions and a plurality of jaw guides extending therebetween, where the inner frame defines a central opening extending therethrough. The crimping device can comprise a plurality of jaws operatively coupled to the inner and outer frames, each jaw having an inner portion positioned within the central opening of the inner frame and an engagement portion configured to slide along a respective jaw guide, each jaw guide comprising an inclined guiderail extending between the first and second axial end portions. Relative axial motion between the outer and inner frames causes radial motion of the jaws for crimping a prosthetic device positioned within the central opening.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A crimping device comprising:
 an annular outer frame comprising a central opening extending through the outer frame and that defines a central axis extending through the central opening;   an inner frame extending through the central opening of the outer frame, the inner frame comprising a first axial end portion, a second axial end portion, and a plurality of jaw guides extending between the first axial end portion and the second axial end portion, wherein a radial distance from the central axis to the jaw guides increases moving axially along the inner frame from the first axial end portion toward the second axial end portion, and wherein the inner frame defines a central opening extending axially through the inner frame, between the first and second axial end portions, and centered on the central axis; and   a plurality of jaws operatively coupled to the inner frame and the outer frame, each jaw having an inner portion positioned within the central opening of the inner frame and an engagement portion configured to slide along a respective jaw guide of the plurality of jaw guides, and wherein each jaw guide comprises an inclined guiderail extending between the first and second axial end portions of the inner frame;   wherein relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes radial motion of the jaws for crimping a prosthetic device positioned within the central opening of the inner frame.   
     
     
         2 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the radial position of the jaws varies as a function of the axial position of the inner frame relative to the outer frame. 
     
     
         3 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes the engagement portion of each jaw to slide along the respective jaw guide. 
     
     
         4 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner portions of the jaws define an iris between them and relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes the iris to change in radial size. 
     
     
         5 . The crimping device of  claim 4 , wherein the iris is fully contracted when the first axial end portion of the inner frame is adjacent to the jaws, and the iris is fully dilated when the second axial end portion of the inner frame is adjacent to the jaws. 
     
     
         6 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the radial position of the jaws is based on the radial distance from the central axis to the jaw guides at an axial position where the jaws are engaged with the jaw guides. 
     
     
         7 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes the jaws to move radially in unison. 
     
     
         8 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the crimping device is configured to transfer an axial force imparted on the inner frame into a radial compressive force imparted from the inner portions of the jaws to a prosthetic device positioned between the jaws, wherein the axial force is proportional to the radial force. 
     
     
         9 . The crimping device of  claim 8 , wherein a mechanical advantage of the crimping device is a function of a slope of the jaw guides, the slope being a ratio of change in radial dimension to change in axial dimension. 
     
     
         10 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the inner frame comprises a generally frustoconical shape. 
     
     
         11 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement portion of each jaw comprises an opening positioned fittingly around the guiderail of the respective jaw guide and is configured to slide along the guiderail with relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame. 
     
     
         12 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the outer frame comprises a plurality of radially extending jaw support holes spaced angularly around the outer frame, an outer portion of each jaw being positioned at least partially within a respective one of the jaw support holes such that the jaws can move radially relative to the outer frame but are restricted from axial or angular motion relative to the outer frame. 
     
     
         13 . The crimping device of  claim 12 , wherein relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes the outer portion of each jaw to slide axially within the jaw support holes. 
     
     
         14 . The crimping device of  claim 1 , wherein the crimping device is configured to be axially movable relative to a delivery catheter such that at least a portion of the delivery catheter can be inserted through the central opening of the inner frame and can extend axially beyond the first and the second axial end portions of the inner frame and opposing end portions of the outer frame. 
     
     
         15 . A method of compressing a prosthetic device, comprising:
 positioning a prosthetic device between jaws of a crimping device, the crimping device comprising a driver and an annular outer frame, wherein the driver comprises an inner frame extending though the outer frame, the inner frame comprising a first end portion, a second end portion, and inclined guiderails extending between the first and second end portions of the driver, wherein the first end portion has a smaller radial dimension than the second end portion, wherein the jaws are arranged in a plane around a central axis that is perpendicular to the plane, and wherein engagement portions of the jaws are configured to slide along the guiderails; and   moving the driver of the crimping device in a first axial direction relative to the jaws, thereby causing the jaws to move radially inward toward the central axis to compress the prosthetic device.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the driver of the crimping device in the first axial direction comprises moving the driver in a direction extending from the first end portion toward the second end portion while the outer frame is stationary, and further comprising moving the driver in a second axial direction opposite the first axial direction and thereby causing the jaws to move radially away from the prosthetic device to release the prosthetic device after it has been compressed. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein positioning the prosthetic device between jaws of the crimping device includes positioning the prosthetic valve inside an iris defined between inner portions of the jaws, and wherein moving the driver in the first axial direction relative to the jaws includes decreasing a size of the iris as the jaws move radially inward to compress the prosthetic device. 
     
     
         18 . A crimping device comprising:
 an annular outer frame comprising a central opening extending through the outer frame and that defines a central axis extending through the central opening;   an inner frame extending through the central opening of the outer frame, the inner frame comprising a first axial end portion, a second axial end portion, and a plurality of guiderails spaced circumferentially apart from one another and extending between the first axial end portion and the second axial end portion, wherein each guiderail slopes radially inward from the first axial end portion to the second axial end portion such that the plurality of guiderails form a frustoconical shape, wherein the inner frame defines a central opening extending axially through the inner frame, between the first and second axial end portions, and centered on the central axis; and   a plurality of jaws operatively coupled to the inner frame and the outer frame, each jaw having an inner portion positioned within the central opening of the inner frame, an engagement portion configured to slide along a respective guiderail of the plurality of guiderails, and a radial guiderail extending perpendicular to the central axis and configured to slide within an opening in the outer frame;   wherein relative axial motion between the outer frame and the inner frame causes axial and radial motion of the jaws for crimping a prosthetic device positioned within the central opening of the inner frame.   
     
     
         19 . The crimping device of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of radial bearings, each radial bearing secured within a respective opening in the outer frame, and wherein the radial guiderail slides within the radial bearing of the respective opening. 
     
     
         20 . The crimping device of  claim 18 , wherein an inner end of each radial guiderail is secured to an end plate of the engagement portion of a respective jaw of the plurality of jaws.