Patent ID: 9381082
Filing Date: 2016-07-05
CPC Classification: A61F

Claim Text:
1. A catheter for delivering a prosthetic valve to a position within a patient, comprising: a catheter proximal portion ending in a catheter proximal end; a catheter distal portion ending in a catheter distal end, the catheter distal portion having an implant holding section configured to receive a prosthetic valve thereon; a prosthetic valve positioned at the implant holding section, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a valve portion and a support portion, wherein the support portion is configured to support the valve portion and secure the valve portion in or adjacent a native valve annulus, wherein the support portion is the only structure configured to secure the valve portion in or adjacent the native valve annulus; a catheter length from the catheter proximal end to the catheter distal end, wherein the catheter length is sufficient to reach from a position outside of a patient's body to a position at a native valve annulus within the patient's body; and at least one extendable positioner configured to be selectively and radially extended from a first position to a second position, wherein in the first position the extendable positioner is positioned generally parallel to and against the catheter distal portion with the extendable positioner extending at least partially over the implant holding section, wherein in the second position at least a portion of the extendable positioner extends radially away from the catheter distal portion, wherein in the second position a portion of the extendable positioner extends longitudinally over but radially displaced away from and outside of the valve portion and the support portion of the prosthetic heart valve; wherein the prosthetic heart valve is configured to be radially expanded and released from the catheter, and the extendable positioner is configured so that after the prosthetic heart valve is released from the catheter and deployed in the native valve annulus, the entirety of the extendable positioner remains secured to the catheter and is configured to be withdrawn in its entirety from the body with the catheter.