Transcatheter prosthetic heart valve delivery system and method

A method for restoring a defective heart valve of a patient, the method comprising:

• providing a delivery device having a distal deployment portion and a proximal control handle portion by which the distal deployment portion is effectively controlled, the distal deployment portion having a prosthetic heart valve coupled thereto, the prosthetic heart valve being radially self-expandable;
• providing a delivery sheath defining a lumen, the delivery sheath having a distal portion defining an opening and a loading cone coupled to a proximal end of the delivery sheath, the loading cone defining an opening in fluid communication with the lumen;
• establishing an access portal to a bodily lumen of the patient with an introducer device;
• inserting the delivery sheath into the bodily lumen through the introducer device;
• manipulating the delivery sheath through the patient's vasculature and into the defective heart valve;
• inserting the delivery device into the loading cone, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is compressed until the prosthetic heart valve is in a crimped arrangement,
• advancing the delivery device distally through the delivery sheath toward the opening of the delivery sheath;
• and
• advancing the delivery device past the opening of the delivery sheath by sliding the delivery device relative to the delivery sheath to release the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery sheath and permit the prosthetic heart valve to self-expand into engagement with the defective heart valve.