Patent ID: 8663318

Claim:
A temporary aortic valve for placement in an ascending aorta of an adult patient to facilitate percutaneous aortic valve replacement, said valve comprising a central catheter mechanism and an expandable occluding means surrounding a distal end of the central catheter mechanism, wherein said occluding means has a contracted mode where it can be delivered and withdrawn percutaneously to and from the ascending aorta and a fully expanded mode where it is in touching contact with the inside walls of said ascending aorta while only partially occluding the aorta, said catheter mechanism having a central passage for the stable transport of valve replacement tools while fully expanded occlusion member leaves gaps for continuous blood perfusion, wherein the cross-sectional area of said gaps left by said occluding means when fully expanded falls within a range of between 25% and 60% of the cross sectional area of the aortic valve area.