A deployment instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses including: a shaft having a longitudinal axis; a handle at a first end of the shaft; and a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site, wherein: the carrier portion includes a hub fixed to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition, the handle comprises a drive member including a first drive feature and a second drive feature, the first deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a first axially movable element, the first axially movable element engaging said first drive feature of the drive member, the second deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a second axially movable element, the second axially movable element engaging said second drive feature of the drive member, wherein upon operation of the drive member the first drive feature is configured to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction, and the second drive feature is configured to axially displace the second deployment element in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite to one another, and further wherein the second axially movable member includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being axially movable relative to the first portion to provide an axial displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member. a shaft having a longitudinal axis; a handle at a first end of the shaft; and a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site, the carrier portion includes a hub fixed to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition, the handle comprises a drive member including a first drive feature and a second drive feature, the first deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a first axially movable element, the first axially movable element engaging said first drive feature of the drive member, the second deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a second axially movable element, the second axially movable element engaging said second drive feature of the drive member, wherein upon operation of the drive member the first drive feature is configured to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction, and the second drive feature is configured to axially displace the second deployment element in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite to one another, and further wherein the second axially movable member includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being axially movable relative to the first portion to provide an axial displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member.