Patent ID: 9005277
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a heart valve including a prosthetic valve having a non-expandable, non-collapsible frame defining an orifice along a valve axis and leaflets that provide occluding surfaces across the orifice, the heart valve further including a plastically-expandable coupling stent having a first end connected to a sewing ring on an inflow end of the prosthetic valve, the coupling stent having a contracted state for delivery to an implant position and an expanded state; a valve holder subassembly attached to the heart valve opposite the coupling stent and extending through an opening defined by the leaflets and defining a central lumen coincident with the valve axis; a catheter having a distal expander; and a handle configured to attach to a proximal end of the valve holder subassembly and having a lumen for passage of the catheter, the distal expander in a contracted configuration being sized to extend distally through the handle lumen, through the holder subassembly lumen and through the heart valve to a position within the coupling stent for expansion of a second end thereof.