Patent ID: 11931251
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 12:
13. A delivery apparatus comprising:
a first shaft including a tapered distal tip portion;
a second shaft extending through the first shaft and configured to rotate within the first shaft, around a central longitudinal axis of the delivery apparatus, wherein the first shaft and the second shaft are configured to translate axially relative to one another;
a third shaft extending through the second shaft and having a distal end portion extending distally beyond a distal end portion of the second shaft; and
an inflatable balloon coupled to the distal end portion of the second shaft, the balloon arranged around the distal end portion of the third shaft and overlaying a valve mounting portion of the delivery apparatus that is configured to receive a prosthetic valve in a radially compressed state;
wherein the distal tip portion of the first shaft includes a proximal end portion and a distal end portion that has an outer diameter than increases in a distal direction, the distal end portion including a plurality of helical internal grooves arranged on an inner surface of the distal end portion, the plurality of helical internal grooves configured to reduce engagement between pleats of the balloon and the plurality of helical internal grooves when the balloon is rotated with rotation of the second shaft.