Valve diameter and force monitoring of a prosthetic heart valve

A delivery apparatus for a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• a handle;
• a light source configured to emit light;
• a receiving element configured to receive light;
• at least one first actuator and at least one second actuator extending from the handle, the first actuator being configured to apply a distally directed force to a first portion of a prosthetic heart valve and the second actuator being configured to apply a proximally directed force to a second portion of the prosthetic heart valve to radially expand the prosthetic heart valve;
• a sensor;
• a control unit in communication with the sensor;
• a first optical fiber configured to produce a light pattern as the first fiber moves relative to the sensor, the first fiber extending through the sensor and having a distal end portion coupled to the second actuator and a proximal end portion coupled to the light source;
• a second optical fiber having a distal end portion coupled to the sensor and a proximal end portion coupled to the receiving element;
• wherein actuation of the second actuator causes corresponding movement of the first optical fiber relative to the sensor such that the sensor senses the light pattern and the control unit determines a real-time diameter of the prosthetic heart valve as it moves between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration based at least in part on the light pattern.

A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• inserting into a body of a patient a distal end portion of a delivery apparatus and a prosthetic heart valve coupled to the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus in a radially compressed configuration, the delivery apparatus comprising a handle having a light source and a receiver element, a first actuator extending from the handle and configured to apply a distally directed force to a first portion of the prosthetic valve, a second actuator extending from the handle and configured to apply a proximally directed force to a second portion of the prosthetic valve, a sensor, a first optical fiber, the first optical fiber extending through the sensor and having a distal end portion coupled to the second actuator and a proximal end portion coupled to the light source, and a second optical fiber having a distal end portion coupled to the sensor and a proximal end portion coupled to the receiving element;
• advancing the delivery apparatus distally until the prosthetic heart valve is disposed at a selected implantation site;
• radially expanding the prosthetic heart valve by at least one of advancing the first actuator distally and retracting the second actuator proximally to produce relative movement between the first optical fiber and the sensor such that the first optical fiber produces a light pattern;
• and
• as the prosthetic heart valve is expanded, determining with the receiving element the light pattern and calculating a real-time diameter of the prosthetic heart valve based at least in part on the light pattern.