Universal heart valve holder

Abstract

A prosthetic heart valve holder includes a valve holder selectively attachable with a handle assembly. The handle assembly includes a handle end, a flexible, medial segment, and a coupling member. The valve holder includes a valve coupling member and a handle receiving member. The valve coupling member may include a leaflet bias member, leaflet guards, or both. The handle receiving member includes locking tabs and receiving windows for receiving the handle coupling member. The handle receiving member also includes anti-rotation stays which serve to transfer rotational forces from the handle assembly to the valve holder. Also, alignment stays serve to properly align the handle receiving member with the coupling member so that the handle assembly and valve holder are properly coupled. The handle assembly is made from resterilizable materials so that the handle assembly may be reused. The valve holder is disposable.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.