Patent ID: 11951006
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A heart valve and valve holder assembly comprising:
a prosthetic heart valve comprising a plurality of valve leaflets that control directional flow of blood through a heart, a stent structure having a plurality of flexible commissure posts supporting the valve leaflets, the stent structure having a fabric covering over the plurality of commissure posts and having a sewing ring at an inflow end of the stent structure, each of the plurality of commissure posts having a tip and a first suture loop attached to the fabric covering at a location adjacent to or on the tip of the commissure post, wherein each first suture loop provides a passage for a suture to pass through between the fabric covering and the suture loop;
a valve holder comprising a valve holder body to hold the prosthetic heart valve, the valve holder body having an upper surface, a bottom surface shaped to abut an inflow side of the prosthetic heart valve, and a central axis, the holder having a suture tensioning mechanism therein; and
a plurality of separate deployment sutures connecting the valve holder to the prosthetic heart valve, each deployment suture having:
a first end attached to the tensioning mechanism,
a mid-section routed through the sewing ring and through the passage of a first suture loop on one of the commissure posts, and
a second end tied off on the valve holder, wherein

actuation of the tensioning mechanism creates tension in each deployment suture to deflect each commissure post radially inward and adjust the prosthetic heart valve to a delivery position.