Patent ID: 8057539

Claim:
A device for use in positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis at an implantation site having an aortic valve annulus, the device comprising: a wire element operable to facilitate advancement of the valve prosthesis; and an expandable element coupled to the wire element, the expandable element including at least three substantially longitudinal band elements formed of a superelastic material and having a cage-shaped expanded configuration, the expanded configuration operable to axially secure the wire element with respect to the implantation site in the vessel, while not occluding blood flow through the vessel; an abutment element configured to limit advancement of the prosthesis, the abutment element coupled to the wire element and disposed at a location proximal to the expandable element such that during use the abutment element operates to axially align the prosthesis with the aortic valve annulus; and a filter element couple to the wire element at a location distal to the abutment element, the filter element configured such that it is permeable to blood flow; wherein the expandable element is disposed in a symmetrical fashion about the wire element, configured such that during use at least a portion of the wire element is generally positioned along a central longitudinal axis of the vessel.