Patent ID: 8652202
Filing Date: 2014-02-18
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An assembly for delivering a prosthetic heart valve via a patient's vasculature, comprising: a prosthetic heart valve comprising a collapsible and expandable annular frame and a collapsible and expandable valve member mounted within the annular frame the valve member comprising a tricuspid valve configuration formed with pericardial tissue and configured for allowing blood flow in only one direction when in an expanded condition; a heart valve delivery apparatus comprising: a handle portion; a first shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the proximal end portion being connected to the handle portion; a flexible second shaft extending through the first shaft, the second shaft and the first shaft being adapted to extend through the patient's vasculature; and a valve sheath having a proximal end portion coupled to the distal end portion of the first shaft, the valve sheath also having a distal end portion extending distally past the distal end portion of the first shaft, the distal end portion of the valve sheath defining a distal opening; wherein the valve is in a compressed state and is disposed within the valve sheath, which extends over the entire length of the valve and retains the valve in the compressed state for delivery to the heart through the patient's vasculature; wherein when the valve is retained in a compressed state within the sheath, the sheath is in a distal position relative to the first shaft, wherein the second shaft is configured such that rotation of the second shaft relative to the first shaft and the sheath is effective to cause relative longitudinal movement between the sheath and the first shaft and between the sheath and the valve to cause the valve to be deployed outwardly through the distal opening of the sheath for deployment in the heart, and wherein the relative longitudinal movement between the sheath and the first shaft is effective to position the sheath at a proximal position relative to the first shaft in which the distal end of the sheath is proximal to the deployed valve.