Prosthetic heart valve and delivery apparatus

An assembly for replacing a native heart valve, the assembly comprising:

• a prosthetic heart valve comprising an annular metal frame and a valve member disposed in an interior of the metal frame, wherein the metal frame is made of a shape-memory material, and wherein the metal frame includes connecting features extending from an outlet end of the metal frame, the valve member configured to direct blood flow towards the outlet end;
• and
• a delivery apparatus comprising:
• a handle;
• a shaft comprising a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, wherein the proximal end portion is coupled to the handle and the distal end portion is releasably coupled to the prosthetic heart valve;
• a delivery sheath;
• and
• a hydraulic power source operatively connected to the delivery sheath;
• wherein the prosthetic heart valve is positioned within the delivery sheath in a radially compressed state;
• wherein the distal end portion of the shaft includes a cylindrical end piece that is entirely continuous around a central lumen, the cylindrical end piece having a plurality of recesses configured to receive the connecting features extending from the outlet end of the metal frame to form a releasable connection between the prosthetic heart valve and the shaft;
• wherein the hydraulic power source is configured to move the delivery sheath proximally relative to the prosthetic heart valve to allow the prosthetic heart valve to partially self expand from the radially compressed state to a partially radially expanded state where the prosthetic heart valve remains coupled to the distal end portion of the shaft;
• and
• wherein the hydraulic power source is also configured to move the delivery sheath distally relative to the prosthetic heart valve to cause the delivery sheath to radially re-compress the prosthetic heart valve from the partially radially expanded state toward the radially compressed state.