Patent attributes
A crimper for altering an implantable medical device from an uncompressed state to a compressed state. The crimper includes a plurality of crimper elements that define a crimper channel, each of the crimper elements including a non-planar surface that forms a portion of the crimper channel. Each non-planar surface is configured to apply non-uniform radial compression along a length of the implantable medical device during operation of the crimper when altering the implantable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state. The crimper also includes handle configured to operate the crimper. Actuation of the handle decreases a volume of the crimper chamber to transition the implantable medical device from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.