Patent ID: 7935144

Claim:
A method for reducing an axial profile of a valve implant, the method comprising: providing a tubular valve implant, the tubular valve implant having a longitudinal axis, and a delivery catheter, the delivery catheter having a central axis and a distal receiving section; wherein the tubular valve implant comprises an inflatable body comprising at least one inflation channel that forms, at least in part, a distal inflatable toroidal structure and a proximal inflatable toroidal structure, and a tissue valve coupled to the inflatable body; the tubular valve implant further comprises at least one inflation valve in communication with the at least one inflation channel; helically rolling the tubular valve implant around a rolling axis that is offset at an angle of about 15 degrees to about 60 degrees with respect to the longitudinal axis to form a rolled valve implant having a rolled axis, the rolled axis the same as the rolling axis; aligning the rolled axis of the rolled valve implant with the central axis of the delivery catheter; and inserting the rolled valve implant into the distal receiving section of the delivery catheter.