Patent ID: 6409758
Filing Date: 2002-06-25
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
A combination holder and tissue-type prosthetic mitral heart valve attachable to a surgical delivery handle, the heart valve having an inflow end and an outflow end and a flow axis therebetween, the valve including an annular suture ring at the inflow end and radially flexible commissure posts circumferentially-spaced around the outflow end that support occluding tissue surfaces of the valve, the holder comprising:a commissure post constriction mechanism releasably attached to the suture ring at the inflow end of the valve, the mechanism adapted to constrict the valve commissure posts radially inward from a relaxed position to a constricted position when actuated by the delivery handle, and a retaining mechanism that retains the commissure post constriction mechanism in the constricted position after the delivery handle is removed.