Methods of delivering and implanting resilient prosthetic surgical heart valves

A method of implanting a surgical prosthetic heart valve at a heart valve annulus, wherein the valve comprises a resilient frame including alternating cusp and commissure portions and having a neutral configuration defining a circular prism leaflet support structure, the valve further including a sewing ring around an inflow end of the resilient frame, the valve further including flexible leaflets supported by the leaflet support structure, the method comprising:

• retaining the surgical prosthetic heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration in which the resilient frame defines a non-circular prism, wherein the commissure portions of the resilient frame are folded inwardly toward a longitudinally collapsed position when the valve is positioned in the collapsed delivery configuration;
• making an outer incision leading to a body lumen;
• making an inner incision in the body lumen to provide direct access to a heart valve annulus;
• inserting the valve in the collapsed delivery configuration through the outer and inner incisions and into the body lumen;
• advancing the valve to the heart valve annulus;
• securing the sewing ring to the heart valve annulus;
• and
• releasing the valve from the collapsed delivery configuration such that the valve independently recovers to the neutral configuration.