Patent ID: 8348998

Claim:
A system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a heart valve including a prosthetic valve having a non-expandable, non-collapsible orifice defined by a support structure with an undulating shape of alternative commissures and cusps in an outflow direction that supports flexible leaflets that come together within the orifice in an outflow direction, the heart valve further including an expandable coupling stent extending from an inflow end thereof, the coupling stent having a contracted state for delivery to an implant position and an expanded state; a valve holder connected to an outflow end of the heart valve and having a sleeve extending between the flexible leaflets, the holder and sleeve together defining a throughbore from an outflow side of the leaflets to an inflow side; a balloon catheter having a balloon; and a handle configured to attach to a proximal end of the valve holder and having a lumen for passage of the balloon catheter, the lumen aligned with the throughbore of the valve holder and sleeve, the balloon extending distally through the handle lumen and the throughbore and distally between the heart valve leaflets without contacting the leaflets such that the balloon is positioned to expand the coupling stent.