What is an Autosheath System?
Some Blockwise stent crimping machines are available with an optional feature: Automatic Film Sheathing. In the Blockwise autosheathing system, a flat thin PTFE plastic film is fed from a payoff roll. The film passes over a flat bar before entering a round hole just before or at the compression die opening. As the catheter moves into the crimping station, the film is also pulled into the station. As the product is retracted, the film does not move.
How to Select an Autosheathing Film Width and Bushing Size
- Determine the Initial Diameter:
-
- For stents, OD of stent.
- For balloons only, trial-fit balloon sheath tubes to find the smallest tube ID that fits on the balloon. Initial diameter = tube ID.
- Select a bushing diameter:
- If your compression station is Alpha-Crimp (model RAE) or RedCrimp (model REE), no bushing is required.
- If your compression station is J-Crimp (model RJE) or 2-Crimp (model R2E), select a bushing slightly larger than the Initial Diameter determined above (See table below)
- Select a film width:
- If your compression station is Alpha-Crimp (model RAE) or RedCrimp (model REE), then select a film width from the table, based on your Initial Diameter. In your process recipe, set step 0 to be about 0.2 mm bigger than your Initial Diameter
- If your compression station is J-Crimp (model RJE) or 2-Crimp (model R2E), then the bushing size (dash number) determines the film width, as shown in the table.
| RAE “Alpha-Crimp” or REE “Red-Crimp” Film Kit Selection Table | ||||||
| Stent or Balloon Initial Dia Range |
Bushing Opening Dia |
Entry Bushing Part Number |
Exit Bushing Part Number |
Film Width | Film Part Number |
Application Kit Part Number |
| 0 – 0.063 in (0 – 1.60 mm) |
– | Not Used | Not Used | 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
AS175-08 | AS140-08 |
| 0.064 – 0.090 in (1.61 – 2.29 mm) |
– | Not Used | Not Used | 0.34 in (8.6 mm) |
AS175-11 | AS140-11 |
| 0.091 – 0.135 in (2.35 – 3.43 mm) |
– | Not Used | Not Used | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) |
AS175-16 | AS140-16 |
| 0.136 – 0.171 in (3.44 – 4.34 mm) |
– | Not Used | Not Used | 0.63 in (15.9 mm) |
AS175-20 | AS140-20 |
| RJE “J-Crimp” Film Kit Selection Table | ||||||
| Stent or Balloon Initial Dia Range |
Bushing Opening Dia |
Entry Bushing Part Number |
Exit Bushing Part Number |
Film Width | Film Part Number |
Application Kit Part Number |
| 0 – 0.063 in (0 – 1.60 mm) |
0.073 in (1.85 mm) |
AS080-08 | AS068-08 | 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
AS175-08 | AS117-08 |
| 0.064 – 0.090 in (1.61 – 2.29 mm) |
0.100 in (2.54 mm) |
AS080-11 | AS068-11 | 0.34 in (8.6 mm) |
AS175-11 | AS117-11 |
| 0.091 – 0.135 in (2.35 – 3.43 mm) |
0.145 in (3.68 mm) |
AS080-16 | AS068-16 | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) |
AS175-16 | AS117-16 |
| 0.136 – 0.171 in (3.44 – 4.34 mm) |
0.181 in (4.60 mm) |
AS080-20 | AS068-20 | 0.63 in (15.9 mm) |
AS175-20 | AS117-20 |
| R2E “2-Crimp” Film Kit Selection Table | ||||||
| Stent or Balloon Initial Dia Range |
Bushing Opening Dia |
Entry Bushing Part Number |
Exit Bushing Part Number |
Film Width | Film Part Number |
Application Kit Part Number |
| 0 – 0.063 in (0 – 1.60 mm) |
0.073 in (1.85 mm) |
AS207-08 | AS068-08 | 0.25 in (6.4 mm) |
AS175-08 | AS217-08 |
| 0.064 – 0.090 in (1.61 – 2.29 mm) |
0.100 in (2.54 mm) |
AS207-11 | AS068-11 | 0.34 in (8.6 mm) |
AS175-11 | AS217-11 |
| 0.091 – 0.135 in (2.35 – 3.43 mm) |
0.145 in (3.68 mm) |
AS207-16 | AS068-16 | 0.50 in (12.7 mm) |
AS175-16 | AS217-16 |
| 0.136 – 0.171 in (3.44 – 4.34 mm) |
0.181 in (4.60 mm) |
AS207-20 | AS068-20 | 0.63 in (15.9 mm) |
AS175-20 | AS217-20 |
The first time that you use a certain film width, please order the Application Kit. Subsequent times, just order the Film.
Application Kit AS140-XX for Alpha-Crimp or Red-Crimp includes:
Application Kits AS117-XX and AS217-XX for J-Crimp and 2-Crimp, include:
(Bushings might look different from the picture)