Patent ID: 9492274
Filing Date: 2016-11-15
CPC Classification: A61F,B23P,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, the heart valve having a length, a stent portion formed from a material and at least one retaining member at one end thereof, the method comprising: inserting the heart valve into a funnel having a first open end with a first diameter and a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter; advancing the heart valve through the funnel until the at least one retaining member protrudes out from the second open end of the funnel; attaching the at least one retaining member to a retaining element of the delivery device; advancing a distal sheath of the delivery device over the heart valve to collapse a portion of the heart valve less than the length; cooling the heart valve to a temperature below a transition temperature of the material forming the stent portion of the heart valve; and further advancing the distal sheath of the delivery device over the heart valve until the entire heart valve is collapsed.