Mechanical guides for preferential leaflet folding during crimping

An assembly comprising:

• a transcatheter valve prosthesis including a frame and a prosthetic valve component including at least one leaflet disposed within and secured to the frame, the transcatheter valve prosthesis having an expanded configuration and a crimped configuration for delivery within a vasculature;
• a leaflet folding accessory configured for use when compressing the transcatheter valve prosthesis into the crimped configuration, the leaflet folding accessory including a plurality of guide fingers, wherein all guide fingers of the leaflet folding accessory includes a leaflet contact portion which is configured to be disposed radially within the frame and contact an inner surface of a leaflet of the at least one leaflet and configured to not directly contact an outer surface of the leaflet,
• wherein, during crimping of the transcatheter valve prosthesis, the plurality of guide fingers are configured to remain disposed radially within the frame such that the at least one leaflet preferentially folds around the plurality of guide fingers, and
• wherein the leaflet folding accessory includes a handle configured to be held by a user, the handle being attached to a first end of each guide finger, and wherein the leaflet folding accessory further includes a collar disposed over the handle, the collar being moveable relative to the guide fingers in order to adjust a radial position of the leaflet contact portions of the guide fingers.