US 11,786,372 B2
Method and apparatus for compressing/loading stent-valves
Luc Mantanus, Lausanne (CH); Fabien Lombardi, Prilly (CH); Pierre Simonin, Montflovin (FR); Youssef Biadillah, Geneva (CH); Jean-Luc Hefti, Cheseaux-Noreaz (CH); and Stephane Delaloye, Bulach (CH)
Assigned to Symetis SA, Ecublens (CH)
Filed by Symetis SA, Ecublens (CH)
Filed on Feb. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/802,035.
Application 16/802,035 is a continuation of application No. 16/371,214, filed on Apr. 1, 2019, granted, now 10,682,228.
Application 16/371,214 is a continuation of application No. 15/022,525, granted, now 10,245,145, issued on Apr. 2, 2019, previously published as PCT/EP2014/069696, filed on Sep. 16, 2014.
Claims priority of application No. 13184650 (EP), filed on Sep. 16, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2020/0205971 A1, Jul. 2, 2020
Int. Cl. H02G 1/00 (2006.01); A61F 2/24 (2006.01); A61F 2/97 (2013.01); A61F 2/95 (2013.01)
CPC A61F 2/2436 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2418 (2013.01); A61F 2/9522 (2020.05); A61F 2/97 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0008 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0054 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0018 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0091 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A loading tube apparatus for use in compressing and/or loading a stent-valve for a delivery catheter, the loading tube apparatus comprising:
a plurality of separate, discrete segments that when assembled around a portion of the delivery catheter, the segments alone define a tubular shape, wherein all of the plurality of separate, discrete segments have a same longitudinal length; and
at least one retainer surrounding the plurality of segments for retaining the plurality of segments in the tubular shape.