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An assembly is provided which can crimp or compress an intraluminal device or measure the radial strength of an intraluminal device. The crimping assembly includes at least two moving-element subassemblies, each with a pair of moving elements. The moving elements having a first side and a second sid

An assembly is provided which can crimp or compress an intraluminal device or measure the radial strength of an intraluminal device. The crimping assembly includes at least two moving-element subassemblies, each with a pair of moving elements. The moving elements having a first side and a second side joining at a tip. The moving-element subassembly is able to move in such a way that the moving elements move relative to each other from a first position with the tips offset from each other by a first distance, to a second position with the tips offset from each other by a second distance different than the first distance. The assembly also includes a movement assembly that interfaces with each of the moving-element subassemblies. The movement assembly moves the pairs of moving elements between the first position and the second position.

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What is claimed: 1. A crimping assembly comprising: at least two moving-element subassemblies, each subassembly having a pair of moving elements, each moving element having a first side and a second side joining at a tip, the moving-element subassembly adapted for movement wherein the moving elemen

What is claimed: 1. A crimping assembly comprising: at least two moving-element subassemblies, each subassembly having a pair of moving elements, each moving element having a first side and a second side joining at a tip, the moving-element subassembly adapted for movement wherein the moving elements move relative to each other from a first position with the tips offset from each other by a first distance, to a second position with the tips offset from each other by a second distance different than the first distance and wherein the moving-element subassemblies are arranged relative to each other such that a portion of each moving element from one moving-element subassembly is interposed between a portion of the moving elements of the other moving-element subassemblies; and a movement assembly interfacing with each of the moving-element subassemblies and adapted to move the pairs of moving elements between the first position and the second position. 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the movement assembly is adapted to move the moving-element subassemblies simultaneously. 3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the moving-element subassemblies are arranged such that when the tips are offset by a distance an opening is formed by the moving elements. 4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein-the opening formed by the moving elements is defined by a portion of the first side of each moving element. 5. The assembly of claim 3 wherein when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a first direction, the tips of each moving element move toward the center of the opening and when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, the tips of each moving element move away from the center of the opening. 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first side of each moving element includes a substantially flat region. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the moving elements travel along an arcuate path when moving between the first position and the second position. 8. An assembly for crimping an intraluminal device onto a catheter, comprising: a plurality of moving-element subassemblies, each subassembly having a pair of opposed moving elements coupled together by a pair of pivot links each adapted to rotate about one of a plurality of pivot shafts, the moving-element subassemblies arranged relative to each other such that a portion of each moving element from one moving-element subassembly is interposed between a portion of the moving elements of the other moving-element subassemblies, each moving element having a first side and a second side joining at a tip, the moving-element subassembly adapted for movement where the moving elements move relative to each other from a first position with the tips offset from each other by a first distance to form an opening having a first size, to a second position with the tips offset from each other by a second distance to form an opening having a second size; a drive-wheel assembly interfacing with each of the moving-element subassemblies and adapted for rotational movement to thereby move the pairs of moving elements between the first position and the second position; and a base assembly which includes the pivot shafts. 9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the drive-wheel assembly includes a drive wheel and a plurality of drive shafts extending from the drive wheel, the drive shafts adapted to interface with the moving elements. 10. The assembly of claim 9 wherein each moving element interfaces with at least two drive shafts. 11. The assembly of claim 8 wherein rotation of the drive-wheel assembly is limited. 12. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the plurality of moving-element subassemblies comprises four moving-element subassemblies. 13. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first side of each moving element includes a substantially linear region. 14. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the first and second sides of the moving elements are substantially linear. 15. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the moving elements travel along an arcuate path when moving between the first position and the second position. 16. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the assembly is configured such that it may be rotated relative to the intraluminal device a preselected number of degrees N. 17. The assembly of claim 16 wherein the assembly is configured such that it may be repeatedly rotated N degrees around the intraluminal device. 18. A crimping assembly comprising: at least four moving elements arranged relative to each other to form an opening; means for linking the moving elements to form moving-element subassemblies, each comprising a pair of moving elements, wherein the means for linking comprises a pair of links, each secured to a first moving element at a first end and a second moving element at a second end opposite the first end; means for simultaneously moving the moving-element subassemblies; and means for constraining the moving-element subassemblies to movement between a first position with the moving elements offset from each other a first distance and a second position with the moving elements offset from each other a second distance different from the first distance. 19. The crimping assembly of claim 18, wherein the moving-element subassemblies are arranged such that when the tips are offset by a distance an opening is formed by the moving elements. 20. The assembly of claim 18, wherein a first side of each moving element includes a substantially flat region. 21. The assembly of claim 18, wherein an opening formed by the moving elements is defined by a portion of a first side of each moving element. 22. The assembly of claim 18, wherein when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a first direction, the tips of each moving element move toward the center of the opening and when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, the tips of each moving element move away from the center of the opening. 23. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the moving elements travel along an arcuate path when moving between the first position and the second position. 24. A crimping assembly comprising: at least four moving elements arranged relative to each other to form an opening; means for linking the moving elements to form moving-element subassemblies, each comprising a pair of moving elements; means for simultaneously moving the moving-element subassemblies, wherein the means for simultaneously moving the moving element subassemblies comprises a rotatable drive-wheel and a plurality of element shafts connecting the drive-wheel to the moving elements; and means for constraining the moving-element subassemblies to movement between a first position with the moving elements offset from each other a first distance and a second position with the moving elements offset from each other a second distance different from the first distance. 25. A crimping assembly comprising: at least four moving elements arranged relative to each other to form an opening; means for linking the moving elements to form moving-element subassemblies, each comprising a pair of moving elements; means for simultaneously moving the moving-element subassemblies; and means for constraining the moving-element subassemblies to movement between a first position with the moving elements offset from each other a first distance and a second position with the moving elements offset from each other a second distance different from the first distance, wherein the means for constraining movement of the moving-element subassemblies comprises a pair of pivot links, each secured to a first moving element at a first end and a second moving element at a second end opposite the first end and a pair of pivot shafts about which the pivot links pivot. 26. A crimping assembly comprising: at least two moving-element subassemblies, each subassembly having a pair of moving elements, each moving element having a first side and a second side joining at a tip and a back side opposite the tip, the moving-element subassembly adapted for movement wherein the moving elements move relative to each other such that the tips of the moving elements trace a path that moves outward in a first direction toward the back side of the moving element before moving back inward in a second direction toward the tip, thus forming an arcuate path having a tip and two end points, the tip of which is closer to the back side of the moving element than the ends; and a movement assembly interfacing with each of the moving-element subassemblies and adapted to move the pairs of moving elements in the first and second directions. 27. A crimping assembly comprising: at least two moving-element subassemblies, each subassembly having a pair of moving elements rotatably coupled to a pair of link members, each adapted to rotate about a pivot, the moving elements and link members forming a parallelogram adapted to pivot about the pivots from a first tilted position during which the tips of the moving elements are in a closed position to a second tilted position during which the tips of the moving elements are in an opened position; and a movement assembly interfacing with each of the moving-element subassemblies and adapted to move the pairs of moving elements and link members between the first and second tilted positions. 28. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein the movement assembly is adapted to move the moving-element subassemblies simultaneously. 29. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein the moving-element subassemblies are arranged such that when the tips are offset by a distance an opening is formed by the moving elements. 30. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein a first side of each moving element includes a substantially flat region. 31. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein an opening formed by the moving elements is defined by a portion of a first side of each moving element. 32. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a first direction, the tips of each moving element move toward the center of the opening and when the moving-element subassemblies are moved in a second direction opposite the first direction, the tips of each moving element move away from the center of the opening. 33. The crimping assembly of claim 27, wherein the moving elements travel along an arcuate path when moving between the first position and the second position.