SYSTEM FOR LOADING A COLLAPSIBLE HEART VALVE
First Claim
1. An assembly for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, comprising:
- a compression member having a longitudinal axis, a first open end with a first diameter, a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the first open end to the second open end, the wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve;
a support member having a longitudinal axis, a base and a recess extending along the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive an end of the valve, the support member and the compression member being movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the support member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the support member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member, wherein movement of the support member and the compression member from the initial position to the operative position pushes the valve through the open space such that the valve is radially compressed by the tapered wall of the compression member as the valve advances through the open space; and
a constricting member having a first end and a second end, the second end of the constricting member being sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for collapsing a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve includes a compression member, a support member and a constricting member. The compression member has a tapered wall between its first open end and its second open end, the tapered wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve. The support member has a base and a recess adapted to receive an end of the valve. The support member and the compression member are movable toward one another to compress the valve and push it through a relatively small aperture in the second open end of the compression member. The second end of the constricting member is sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member for loading into a delivery device.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. An assembly for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, comprising:
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a compression member having a longitudinal axis, a first open end with a first diameter, a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a wall decreasing in diameter from the first open end to the second open end, the wall defining an open space adapted to receive the valve; a support member having a longitudinal axis, a base and a recess extending along the longitudinal axis and adapted to receive an end of the valve, the support member and the compression member being movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the support member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the support member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member, wherein movement of the support member and the compression member from the initial position to the operative position pushes the valve through the open space such that the valve is radially compressed by the tapered wall of the compression member as the valve advances through the open space; and a constricting member having a first end and a second end, the second end of the constricting member being sized to receive the compressed valve from the second open end of the compression member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, the delivery device including a tip, a retaining element, a compartment defined between the tip and the retaining element and adapted to receive the heart valve, and a distal sheath movable between a closed position fully covering the compartment and an open position uncovering the compartment, and the heart valve including a stent, a valve assembly supported by the stent, and at least one retainer at one end of the stent, the heart valve having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, the method comprising:
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inserting the heart valve in the expanded condition into a compression member having an inner surface which decreases in diameter uniformly from a first open end to a second open end; advancing the heart valve through the compression member until the at least one retainer protrudes from the second open end of the compression member; positioning the delivery device in an initial position in a constricting member, the constricting member having a first end, a second end, and an elongated tubular portion between the first end and the second end, the delivery device in the initial position having the distal sheath in the open position and the retaining element positioned outside the constricting member; attaching the at least one retainer of the heart valve to the retaining element of the delivery device; and moving the distal sheath of the delivery device to the closed position, during which the heart valve is advanced through the second open end of the compression member and into the elongated tubular portion of the constricting member to place the heart valve in the collapsed condition. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification