Valve introducers with adjustable deployment mechanism and implantation depth gauge

A valve introducer system comprising a valve introducer, the valve introducer comprising:

• a tubular element configured to deliver a heart valve prosthesis, wherein the tubular element includes an outer shaft configured to house a heart valve prosthesis therein and an inner shaft, the tubular element having a length extending from a fixed reference point on the valve introducer to a distal end of the tubular element such that the inner shaft has a inner shaft length from the fixed reference point to a distal end of the inner shaft attached to a nosecone and the outer shaft has an outer shaft length from the fixed reference point to an outer shaft distal end;
• and
• an adjustable deployment mechanism comprising:
• a deployment element configured to move the outer shaft relative to the inner shaft upon actuation of the deployment element to uncover a heart valve prosthesis configured to be disposed within the outer shaft;
• and
• an implantation depth controlling element having a distal end and an adjustable length, wherein the implantation depth controlling element is configured such that adjusting the length of the implantation depth controlling element changes the length of the inner shaft with the nosecone attached thereto from the fixed reference point to the distal end of the inner shaft and changes the length of the outer shaft from the fixed reference point to the distal end of the outer shaft, wherein the inner shaft, outer shaft, and the implantation depth controlling element are configured such that adjustment of the implantation depth controlling element does not uncover a heart valve prosthesis disposed within the outer shaft.