Patent ID: 11963870
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. A method of replacing a native heart valve within a heart, the method comprising:
introducing at least one guide catheter into the heart;
advancing a first guide wire through the at least one guide catheter into the heart;
advancing the first guide wire around a portion of a first leaflet of the native heart valve;
advancing a second guide wire through the at least one guide catheter into the heart;
advancing the second guide wire around a portion of a second leaflet of the native heart valve;
advancing a first leaflet brace over the first guide wire to position the first leaflet brace adjacent to the portion of the first leaflet;
advancing a second leaflet brace over the second guide wire to position the second leaflet brace adjacent to the portion of the second leaflet; and
expanding a replacement heart valve within the native heart valve, thereby capturing the portion of the first leaflet between the first leaflet brace and a first portion of an exterior surface of the replacement heart valve, and capturing the portion of the second leaflet between the second leaflet brace and a second portion of the exterior surface of the replacement heart valve.