Delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve

A method for delivering a medical device comprising a prosthetic heart valve in a patient's body utilizing a delivery assembly comprising a handle having a longitudinal axis, at least a first element, a second element, and a third element extending from the handle, an actuation knob configured to actuate at least one of the elements, and a toggle configured to toggle the actuation knob between a first state and a second state, the method comprising:

• with the actuation knob in a first state, rotating the actuation knob to move the first and second elements axially relative to the third element;
• with the actuation knob in a second state, rotating the actuation knob to move the first element axially relative to the second and third elements;
• moving the toggle axially along the longitudinal axis relative to the actuation knob between a first toggle position and a second toggle position to toggle the actuation knob:
• from the first state to the second state, and/or
• from the second state to the first state;
• wherein the prosthetic heart valve comprises a radially expandable and compressible frame that is expandable from a radially compressed, delivery state to a radially expanded state, and the first, second, and third elements have respective distal end portions releasably coupled to the frame, the method further comprising:
• rotating the actuation knob in the first state to radially expand the frame from the delivery state to the expanded state;
• and
• rotating the actuation knob in the second state to release the frame from the distal end portions of the first, second, and third elements.

A method for delivering a medical device comprising a prosthetic heart valve using a delivery apparatus for implanting a medical device in a patient's body, the delivery apparatus comprising:

• a handle;
• at least a first element, a second element, and a third element extending from the handle;
• an actuation knob configured to actuate at least one of the elements;
• a toggle configured to toggle the actuation knob between a first state and a second state;
• a rotatable component disposed in the handle;
• and
• one or more plungers disposed between the toggle and the actuation knob, wherein the actuation knob is operatively coupled to the first element and the rotatable component is operatively coupled to the second element, but not the first element,
• the method comprising:
• with the actuation knob in the first state, rotating the actuation knob to move the first and second elements axially relative to the third element, wherein rotation of the actuation knob causes corresponding rotation of the rotatable component, the rotation of the actuation knob causing axial movement of the first element and the rotation of the rotatable component causing axial movement of the second element;
• with the actuation knob in the second state, rotating the actuation knob to move the first element axially relative to the second and third elements;
• and
• actuating the toggle to move the plungers between a first plunger position and a second plunger position upon movement of the toggle toward and away from the actuation knob, wherein:
• when the plungers are in the first plunger position, the plungers extend through the actuation knob and into the rotatable component such that rotation of the actuation knob causes rotation of the rotatable component, and
• when the plungers are in the second plunger position, the plungers are withdrawn from the rotatable component such that rotation of the actuation knob does not cause corresponding rotation of the rotatable component.