Patent ID: 6010531
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: A61B,A61F,A61M,Y10S

Abstract:
A method of replacing an aortic valve of a heart within a patient's chest, the aortic valve being disposed in an aortic position between a left ventricle of the heart and an aorta leading away from the heart, the heart being disposed in a chest defined by a plurality of ribs connected to a sternum, the method comprising:arresting the patient's heart;maintaining circulation of oxygenated blood in the patient after the arresting step with a bypass system;providing a first penetration into the patient's chest;incising a wall of the patient's aorta thereby creating an opening in the patient's aorta;positioning an aortic valve prosthesis through the first penetration and the opening in the wall of the aorta using a first instrument, the valve prosthesis being introduced into the patient's chest in a first orientation and re-oriented into a second orientation within the patient's chest, the valve prosthesis is releasably coupled to a valve holder mounted to the end of a delivery handle, an actuator on the delivery handle being manipulated from outside of the patient's chest when the valve prosthesis is re-oriented to the second orientation, the actuator being operably coupled to the valve holder for moving the valve prosthesis from the first orientation to the second orientation;removing the patient's native aortic valve;creating a second penetration in the patient's chest;passing an occluding device through the second penetration in the patient's chest; andoccluding the patient's ascending aorta with the occluding device.