Patent ID: 8790396

Claim:
A delivery system comprising: an elongated, rigid, rod-shaped support structure; a balloon delivery member coupled to the support structure at a distal portion of the support structure; a valve replacement detachably positioned about the balloon delivery member and structured to be collapsed to temporarily reduce a valve diameter, said valve replacement comprising a pliant prosthetic valve having an inlet end, an outlet end, a plurality of leaflet portions and a plurality of commissural tabs positioned at the outlet end and integrally formed with said leaflet portions; and a collapsible stent positioned about an exterior of the valve, the collapsible stent having a circular inflow rim and a circular outflow rim connected by a plurality of longitudinal support posts, said commissural tabs operably coupled to said longitudinal support posts, wherein said rigid support structure is configured to transmit longitudinal and rotational motion along its length without twisting or bending along its length, wherein the balloon delivery member comprises a perfusion tube connecting a distal end and a proximal end of the balloon delivery member and structured to allow blood flow through the balloon delivery member, and wherein the rigid support structure terminates between a proximal end of a balloon of the balloon delivery member and a distal end of the balloon of the balloon delivery member.