Apparatus for attachment of heart valve holder to heart valve prosthesis

An apparatus for holding a heart valve prosthesis during implantation, the heart valve prosthesis including a heart valve prosthesis body and a movable occluder, the apparatus comprising:

• a low profile holder body having an engaging side including a lip portion for abutting the heart valve prosthesis body and a top substantially flat side opposite the engaging side, the holder body sized to extend above the heart valve prosthesis body a distance which is less than a thickness of the heart valve prosthesis body;
• and
• first and second jaws movably coupled to the holder body having a distal portion carrying a distal tip, the distal portion sized to extend through an annulus of the heart valve prosthesis body whereby the distal tip engages the prosthesis body on a distal side of the prosthesis body opposite the lip portion, thereby securing the heart valve prosthesis body between the lip portion and the distal tip;
• wherein the first and second jaws are movable between an engaged position which couples the holder body to the heart valve prosthesis body and a disengaged position in which the body is freed from the heart valve prosthesis body, and a top side of the first and second jaws opposite the distal portion is substantially flush with the top side of the holder body when the first and second jaws are in the engaged position.