Patent ID: 8721715

Claim:
A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve, the delivery device comprising: a support shaft around which a compartment is defined, the compartment being adapted to receive the valve in an assembled condition; an inner shaft extending through the support shaft and adapted to slide relative to the support shaft along a longitudinal axis thereof, the inner shaft having a lumen therethrough; a distal tip operatively connected to a distal end of the inner shaft; a distal retainer interposed between the distal tip and the compartment; a pocket defined between the distal retainer and the distal tip; a distal sheath operatively connected at a distal end thereof to the inner shaft and slidable therewith, the distal sheath being adapted to selectively cover and uncover the compartment and the valve; and a first flow path providing flow communication between the lumen of the inner shaft and the compartment, the first flow path including an aperture in a wall of the inner shaft providing flow communication between the lumen of the inner shaft and the pocket, the aperture being located between the distal retainer and the distal tip.