Mandrel for prosthetic heart valve implant apparatus

A transcatheter heart valve prosthesis comprising:

• an annular frame extending along a frame longitudinal axis between an inflow end of the transcatheter heart valve prosthesis and an outflow end of the transcatheter heart valve prosthesis, the annular frame comprising a plurality of struts and configured to be adjustable between a radially-collapsed position and a radially-expanded position, the annular frame comprising a first radius at a first circumferential location and a second radius at a second circumferential location, the first circumferential location and the second circumferential location located at the same axial location along the frame longitudinal axis between the inflow end and the outflow end, the first radius different than the second radius.

A method for imparting a shape to an annular frame of a heart valve prosthesis, the method comprising:

• positioning a body portion of a mandrel within a lumen of the frame, the body portion extending along a mandrel longitudinal axis between a first end and a second end with a central region extending between the first end and the second end, an outer radial surface of the central region spaced a first radial distance from the mandrel longitudinal axis at a first location and spaced a second radial distance from the mandrel longitudinal axis at a second location that is spaced circumferentially apart from the first location, the first radial distance different than the second radial distance;
• contacting the frame with the body portion to impart a shape to the frame such that the frame comprises a first radius at a first circumferential location and a second radius at a second circumferential location, the first circumferential location and the second circumferential location located at the same axial location along a frame longitudinal axis of the frame, the first radius different than the second radius.