Cardiac valve prosthesis deployment system

A deployment system (10) for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis, the deployment system comprising:

• a first tube (11) having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the first tube comprises a lumen (12) configured to carry a cardiac valve prosthesis, wherein the cardiac valve prosthesis is capable of disposal over a distal portion (11a) of the first tube (11), wherein the cardiac valve prosthesis is capable of compression or expansion;
• a tip (13) fixedly connected to the distal end of the first tube, wherein the tip is configured to detachably accommodate and hold a proximal end (21) of the cardiac valve prosthesis (20), wherein the tip (13) is configured to slide distally relative to the cardiac valve prosthesis (20) resulting in a release of the proximal end (21) of the cardiac valve prosthesis (20),
• a sheath (15) disposed over and holding a cardiac valve prosthesis (20) in a compressed state, wherein the sheath (15) is configured to slide proximally relative to the cardiac valve prosthesis (20) resulting in a release and expansion of the cardiac valve prosthesis (20),
• a first actuating mechanism (16) comprising a lever (17) and a tubular grip (18), wherein the tubular grip is disposed about the sheath (15) such that the sheath is attached within the tubular grip, wherein actuation of the first actuating mechanism permits the first actuation mechanism to slide over the first tube in a proximal direction thereby resulting in a stepwise retraction of the sheath, wherein such retraction of the sheath permits expansion of the cardiac valve prosthesis,
• a biasing element (19) positioned in the proximal portion (11b) of the first tube (11) and being directly linked to the tip (13), and
• a blocking mechanism (25) comprising a punch element (26), two spring-loaded wing elements (28), and an abutment element (30), wherein the blocking mechanism is positioned over the first tube between the distally positioned first actuating mechanism and the proximally positioned biasing element, wherein the blocking mechanism is capable of preventing movement of the first actuating mechanism (16) in a proximal direction relative to the tip (13) beyond the blocking mechanism (25).