Patent ID: 8911455

Claim:
A method of delivering a self-expanding vascular implant to a native valve, comprising: delivering a self-expanding vascular implant on a delivery system to the native valve, the delivery system retaining the vascular implant in a radially compacted configuration, wherein the delivery system comprises a ring mounted on an elongate support member, the ring comprising at least one slot, and wherein a suture received in the at least one slot extends from the ring and connects to the implant; allowing the self-expanding vascular implant to expand, wherein tension on the suture controls expansion of the implant; and moving at least one of proximal and distal anchors extending from the self-expanding vascular implant into engagement with an annulus of the native valve while the self-expanding vascular implant remains connected to the delivery system, wherein the self-expansion of the vascular implant causes the proximal and distal anchors to extend radially outwardly and to move closer to each other to grasp at least one side of the annulus of the native valve between the distal anchors and proximal anchors.