Systems, devices and methods for transcatheter valve delivery

A method of performing a therapeutic procedure on a defective heart valve of a patient, the method comprising:

• receiving a system in a delivery state, the system including a prosthetic heart valve loaded to a delivery device, the prosthetic heart valve including a stent frame maintaining a valve structure, the stent frame defining proximal and distal sides, the delivery device including a handle, an inner shaft, an outer sheath forming a capsule, and a first tether, wherein the delivery state includes:
• the prosthetic heart valve maintained over the inner shaft by the capsule in a compressed condition, and
• the first tether connected to the stent frame and a trailing region of the first tether routed to the handle;
• manipulating the delivery device to guide the prosthetic heart valve through the patient's vasculature and into the defective heart valve;
• transitioning the system to a partial deployment state by proximally retracting the capsule from the prosthetic heart valve, the partial deployment state including the prosthetic heart valve expanding from the compressed condition toward a natural, expanded condition and remaining connected to the delivery device via the first tether;
• reducing a tension in the first tether to allow a corresponding region of the stent frame to slowly expand toward the expanded condition;
• and
• transitioning the system to a full deployment state, including removing the first tether from the stent frame.