Patent ID: 8454684

Claim:
A valve holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent comprising a stent base and multiple commissure posts projecting from the stent base, the valve holder comprising: a connector hub comprising a plurality of slots, wherein each of the slots comprises a one-way sliding mechanism; a plurality of legs connected to the connector hub, each leg comprising an elongate portion and a commissure post engaging plate; a sliding member slideably connected to each leg of the plurality of legs via at least one one-way sliding mechanism of the sliding member, wherein the sliding member is positioned between the connector hub and the commissure post engaging plates of the plurality of legs and slideably moveable from a first position relative to the connector hub in which the commissure post engaging plates are in an uncompressed configuration to a second position relative to the connector hub in which the commissure post engaging plates are in an at least partially compressed configuration; and a handle extending from the connector hub; wherein a portion of each of the plurality of legs is positioned within one of the slots of the connector hub.