Patent ID: 7780723

Claim:
A delivery system for deploying a prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a human heart, comprising: a tubular sleeve; a selectively steerable section permanently fixed to a distal end of the sleeve, the steerable section having a lumen with an inner diameter, the lumen communicating with an open distal end, the steerable section constructed to have a greater flexibility than the tubular sleeve; a pull wire permanently fixed to a distal end portion of the steerable section for selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable section, the steerable section capable of achieving sufficient curvature to navigate around an aortic arch; an elongate balloon catheter extending through the sleeve and through the lumen of the steerable section and out of the open distal end of the steerable section, the elongate balloon catheter being longitudinally movable relative to the sleeve and the steerable section; and a prosthetic valve disposed over an expandable balloon along a distal end portion of the elongate balloon catheter, the prosthetic valve having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the steerable section such that the prosthetic valve is prevented from moving proximally through the steerable section when the balloon is deflated and the prosthetic valve is in a radially compressed state on the deflated balloon, the prosthetic valve comprising an expandable stent portion and a valve structure; wherein the sleeve, steerable section, balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are configured for advancement as a single unit through a patient's vasculature while the prosthetic valve is positioned distal to the steerable section and wherein the balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are movable in a distal direction relative to the sleeve and steerable section for implanting the prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve.