Patent ID: 8313525
Filing Date: 2012-11-20
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 a valve prosthesis; and an element having proximal and distal ends, wherein: the element is slidingly coupled to the distal delivery tube, an outer diameter of the element is approximately equal to an inner diameter of the distal delivery tube, the element is configured such that when the proximal and distal delivery tubes abut one another, the element engages the distal delivery tube in a vicinity of a distal end of the distal delivery tube, and the distal delivery tube and the element are configured such that advancement of the distal delivery tube in a distal direction releases the distal portion of a valve prosthesis from the distal delivery tube, and positions the element in a vicinity of a proximal end of the distal delivery tube, the distal delivery tube comprises a spring positioned within the distal delivery tube between the distal end of the distal delivery tube and the distal end of the element, and the catheter is configured such that expansion of the spring from a compressed state to an uncompressed state causes the advancement of the distal delivery tube in the distal direction.