Patent ID: 8747458

Claim:
A loading system for loading a valve prosthesis into a delivery catheter, the loading system comprising: a loading tool comprising a loading tool connection member, wherein the loading tool connection member comprises a first plurality of outwardly biased prongs, each prong comprising a radially outward facing notch; a valve prosthesis comprising valve prosthesis connection members configured to removably engage with a respective radially outward facing notch of one of the first plurality of outwardly biased prongs; and a crimping tool comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the diameter of the distal end is greater than the diameter of the proximal end, wherein the loading tool is configured to automatically disengage from the valve prosthesis when the valve prosthesis is unloaded from a delivery catheter, and wherein the loading tool is configured to crimp the valve prosthesis and load the valve prosthesis into a delivery catheter when the valve prosthesis is drawn from the distal end of the crimping tool to the proximal end of the crimping tool.