Patent ID: 7510572
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: A61F,G01N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An implantation system, comprising: an elongated cylindrical member having spaced apart ends, at least one of the ends providing an opening; a body portion from which the cylindrical member extends to terminate in the opening that is spaced longitudinally apart from the body portion, the body portion having a greater outer diameter than the cylindrical member, the cylindrical member having an inner diameter in a range from about 5 mm to about 15 mm, the cylindrical member and body portion being substantially coaxial along a linear axis extending through the cylindrical member and the body portion; a heart valve prosthesis including a generally cylindrical support having axially spaced apart ends, a valve mounted within the support at a fixed axial position between the spaced apart ends of the support, the prosthesis being deformable to a first condition in which the prosthesis has a reduced cross-sectional dimension, the support being biased to expand the prosthesis radially outwardly from the first condition to a second condition in which the prosthesis has a cross-sectional dimension that is greater than the reduced cross-sectional dimension, the prosthesis being mounted within the cylindrical member in the first condition; and a plunger operative to traverse at least part of the cylindrical member and urge the prosthesis from the cylindrical member through the opening.