Patent ID: 9707074
Date: 2017-07-18
CPC Classifications: A61F,Y10S

Claim:
1. A method for replacing a heart valve in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising: advancing a prosthetic heart valve in a radially contracted configuration from a distal end portion of a delivery tube into an annulus of a native aortic valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a self-expanding, nickel-titanium alloy body and three bovine pericardium leaflets fastened to the body along three axially extending commissures; allowing the first and second portions of the prosthetic heart valve to radially self-expand to an initial expanded configuration therein; guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration longitudinally along three guide wires towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration, wherein the body of the first portion comprises a tubular mesh and first coupling features, engaging each first coupling feature to the corresponding second coupling feature, wherein the first coupling features and the second coupling features comprise apertures and tabs, thereby locking the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve to the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in a final expanded configuration.