US 12,491,098 B2
Loading apparatus and system for expandable intraluminal medical devices
Jeffry S Melsheimer, Springville, IN (US); Jessica L Burke, Bloomington, IN (US); Sean D Chambers, Bloomington, IN (US); and Arman Valaie, Bloomington, IN (US)
Assigned to Cook Medical Technologies LLC, Bloomington, IN (US)
Filed by Cook Medical Technologies LLC, Bloomington, IN (US)
Filed on Aug. 8, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/231,298.
Application 18/231,298 is a continuation of application No. 16/787,515, filed on Feb. 11, 2020, granted, now 11,974,932.
Application 16/787,515 is a continuation of application No. 14/947,243, filed on Nov. 20, 2015, granted, now 10,596,019, issued on Mar. 24, 2020.
Application 14/947,243 is a continuation of application No. 14/061,980, filed on Oct. 24, 2013, granted, now 9,216,102, issued on Dec. 22, 2015.
Application 14/061,980 is a continuation of application No. 12/860,422, filed on Aug. 20, 2010, granted, now 8,585,019, issued on Nov. 19, 2013.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/235,402, filed on Aug. 20, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0381002 A1, Nov. 30, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 2/95 (2013.01); A61F 2/844 (2013.01); A61F 2/24 (2006.01); A61F 2/92 (2013.01)
CPC A61F 2/95 (2013.01) [A61F 2/844 (2013.01); A61F 2/9526 (2020.05); A61F 2/2436 (2013.01); A61F 2/92 (2013.01); A61F 2002/9511 (2013.01); A61F 2/9522 (2020.05); Y10T 29/53843 (2015.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A loading apparatus comprising:
a main body having a first opening, a second opening, and a passageway extending between the first and second openings, the passageway defining a first chamber, a second chamber, and a transition chamber disposed between the first and second chambers and defining a taper; and
a pusher having central axis, a base, and between two and five pushing arms, each pushing arm comprising an elongate member having a first end disposed within the passageway defined by the main body and a second end attached to the base, the first end of each pushing arm disposed a first distance from the central axis when free of the main body and external forces, the second end of each pushing arm disposed a second distance from the central axis when free of the main body, the second distance greater than the first distance such that the entire second end is disposed further from the central axis than the first end.