Patent ID: 8845718
Filing Date: 2014-09-30
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising a delivery catheter for implanting a valve prosthesis, the catheter comprising: proximal and distal delivery tubes, configured to hold respective proximal and distal portions of the valve prosthesis; and a radially compressible tapered element having proximal and distal ends, the tapered element being slidingly coupled to the distal delivery tube and having an outer diameter touching an inner diameter of the distal delivery tube, wherein the distal delivery tube and the tapered element are configured such that advancement of the distal delivery tube in a distal direction releases the tapered element from a compressed state to an uncompressed state, releases the distal portion of the valve prosthesis from the distal delivery tube and positions the tapered element in a vicinity of a proximal end of the distal delivery tube.