Percutaneous valve prosthesis and system and method for implanting the same

A method for delivering a heart valve prosthesis to a native valve annulus, comprising:

• delivering a self-expanding valve cage stent to the native valve annulus, the valve cage stent including opposing anchoring portions for engaging surrounding tissue and having a plurality of guide wires connected thereto and circumferentially spaced around a periphery thereof;
• expanding the valve cage stent within the native valve annulus;
• engaging tissue of the native valve annulus with the opposing anchoring portions, wherein the opposing anchoring portions extend radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the valve cage stent;
• positioning at least a portion of a tissue valve within the valve cage stent, the tissue valve comprising an expandable and compressible valve frame made from a memory metal, wherein proper positioning of the tissue valve with respect to the valve cage stent is ensured by guiding the tissue valve over the guide wires;
• once the tissue valve is positioned, removing the guide wires from the body;
• and
• expanding the tissue valve and coupling the tissue valve to the valve cage stent;
• wherein the valve cage stent is implanted by use of a first catheter to provide a stable support structure and wherein the tissue valve is implanted within the valve cage stent by use of a second catheter.