Staged development devices and methods for transcatheter heart valve delivery

A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve, the delivery device comprising:

• an operating handle, including:
• a frame;
• a carriage assembly moveable in a longitudinal direction relative to the frame;
• a coupler;
• and a deployment actuator constrained relative to the coupler in the longitudinal direction,
• the coupler having a locked condition in which the coupler is connected to the frame in a fixed position and in which rotation of the deployment actuator moves the carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction relative to the coupler, and an unlocked condition in which the coupler, the deployment actuator, and the carriage assembly are movable together in the longitudinal direction, the coupler being operatively connected to the carriage assembly for movement therewith;
• and
• a catheter assembly, including:
• a first shaft around which a compartment is defined, the first shaft being operatively connected to the frame, the compartment being adapted to receive the valve in an assembled condition;
• and a distal sheath operatively connected to the carriage assembly, the distal sheath being moveable between a closed condition and an open condition,
• wherein movement of the carriage assembly in the longitudinal direction moves the distal sheath between the closed condition and the open condition.