Preparation of expandable prosthetic valve
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
InventorsAlec King, Abigail C. Gifford, Hans Rieckmann, The M. Tang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There are provided methods and systems for preparing an expandable prosthetic heart valve and assemblies comprising prepared valves. The methods comprise the steps of inserting a support member into the prosthetic heart valve whilst the prosthetic heart valve is in an expanded state, arranging the support member and prosthetic heart valve such that the support member contacts two or more leaflets of the prosthetic heart valve, and crimping the prosthetic heart valve to reduce its external diameter and the external diameter of the support member whilst the support member is maintained in contact with the two or more leaflets during crimping.
Claims20
A method of preparing an expandable prosthetic heart valve comprising a stent and a plurality of leaflets for delivery, the method comprising the steps of:
- inserting a support member into the prosthetic heart valve whilst the prosthetic heart valve is in an expanded state;
- arranging the support member and prosthetic heart valve such that the support member contacts two or more leaflets of the plurality of leaflets of the prosthetic heart valve;
- and,
- crimping the prosthetic heart valve to reduce its external diameter and the external diameter of the support member;
- wherein the support member is maintained in contact with the two or more leaflets during crimping such that the support member applies a frictional or radial force to the two or more leaflets as the external diameter of the prosthetic heart valve is reduced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.