A medical device includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen. A variable diameter sheath with a central portion that prevents expansion of the stent when the balloon is pressurized and larger diameter ends is disposed over the crimped stent-balloon assembly. The balloon is pressurized and the larger diameter ends of the sheath allow the balloon beyond the ends of the stent to expand. The balloon is then depressurized.

A method of crimping a stent is disclosed. The stent includes a minimum crimped diameter such that in the minimum crimped diameter, a pair of stent rings, between which marker support structures reside, do not make contact with the marker support structures. The crimped profile of the stent of the present invention can be as small as the crimped profile of a same stent but without the maker support structures.

Systems and methods are disclosed herein for dressing centering a bearing compartment in a gas turbine engine. A nut may be inserted through an outer case of a gas turbine engine. The nut may be coupled to a strut which centers a bearing compartment. The nut may be rotated to achieve a desired tension on the strut to center the bearing compartment. A retaining plate comprising a collar may be positioned over the nut. A swaging tool comprising a swaging ramp may be positioned over the nut. The swaging tool may be forced against the retaining plate using a draw-in bolt. The swaging ramp may contact the collar and form indentations in the collar to lock the nut in place.

A medical device includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold, after being deployed by the balloon, provides a crush recovery of about 90% after the diameter of the scaffold has been pinched or crushed by 50%. The scaffold has a pattern including an asymmetric closed cell connecting links connecting the closed cells.

A method is provided for implanting a valve having at least one valve leaflet within the cardiovascular system of a subject. One step of the method includes preparing a substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve and then providing an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends and a main body portion extending between the ends. Next, the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is attached to the expandable support member so that the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve is operably secured within the main body portion of the expandable support member. The expandable support member is then crimped into a compressed configuration and placed at a desired location within the cardiovascular system of the subject. Either before or after placement at the desired location, fluid or blood re-hydrates the substantially dehydrated bioprosthetic valve.

A medical device-includes a polymer stent crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The stent is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes heating the stent to a temperature below the polymer's glass transition temperature to improve stent retention without adversely affecting the mechanical characteristics of the stent when later deployed to support a body lumen.

A method for crimping a stent with a polymer coating in a humid environment is disclosed.

An assembly unit is produced according to the following method steps: an assembly part is provided which does not yet have a through bore. A disc-shaped welding element blank with a first end side, a second end side and a peripheral surface is stamped out of a sheet metal blank by a punch and a hole die so that the peripheral surface has a cylindrical longitudinal portion extending away from the first end side, and an adjoining cone portion which tapers towards the second end side and forms with this a cutting edge. The welding element blank is stamped with the cutting edge at the front into the assembly part to thereby form the through bore.

A medical device-includes a polymer scaffold crimped to a catheter having an expansion balloon. The scaffold is crimped to the balloon by a process that includes inflating the delivery balloon during a diameter reduction to improve scaffold retention. A crimping temperature is maintained at about the onset of glass transition of the polymer material to facilitate more rapid stabilization of mechanical properties in the scaffold following crimping.

A method for crimping a stent with a PC polymer coating in a humid environment is disclosed.