Stent-valves for valve replacement and associated methods and systems for surgery

A cardiac stent-valve delivery system comprising:

• a first assembly comprising an outer sheath and a guide wire tubing;
• and
• a second assembly comprising a stent holder configured for removable attachment to at least one attachment element of a stent-valve, the stent-valve positioned over the guide wire tubing of the first assembly,
• wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are configured for relative movement with respect to one another in order to transition from a closed position to an open position, such that in the closed position the outer sheath encompasses the stent-valve still attached to the stent holder and thus constrains expansion of the stent-valve, and such that in the open position the outer sheath does not constrain expansion of the stent-valve and thus the stent-valve detaches from the stent holder and expands to a fully expanded configuration.