Patent ID: 9061119
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: A61F,A61M

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for implanting a prosthetic heart valve within a native aortic valve, comprising: a steerable guide catheter having a handle portion and an elongated guide tube extending from the handle portion, the elongated guide tube having a distal end portion comprising a steerable section, the guide catheter further comprising an adjustment knob on the handle portion and a pull wire operatively connecting the adjustment knob to the steerable section for producing movement of the steerable section via manual adjustment of the adjustment knob; a balloon catheter sized to slidably extend through the guide catheter, the balloon catheter comprising a proximal portion configured to be positioned adjacent the handle portion and an elongated shaft configured to extend through the elongated guide tube, the balloon catheter further comprising an inflatable balloon positioned along a distal end portion and an extension portion positioned between the elongated shaft of the balloon catheter and the inflatable balloon, the extension portion an integral piece of the balloon having a smaller cross-section than the inflatable balloon; a nose piece disposed at a distal end of the balloon catheter, the nose piece comprising a tapered distal end and a tapered proximal section having a concave portion, a distal end of the inflatable balloon secured to the nose piece, the nose piece more rigid than the balloon; and a prosthetic heart valve comprising an expandable frame portion and an inner portion that includes leaflets; wherein the prosthetic heart valve is sized to be crimped coaxially on the extension portion of the balloon catheter to a diameter substantially smaller than a diameter to which the prosthetic heart valve is crimpable over the inflatable balloon, and wherein a distal end of the elongated guide tube is sized to contact a wire frame of the prosthetic heart valve such that advancement of the guide tube relative to the balloon catheter causes the prosthetic heart valve to be pushed off the extension portion and on to the inflatable balloon for radial expansion of the prosthetic heart valve.