System for minimally invasive insertion of a bioprosthetic heart valve

Abstract

A system for minimally invasive insertion of a bioprosthetic heart valve. The system includes a collapsible tissue-based valve system, a catheter-based valve delivery system, a surgical platform and a device tracking and visualization system. The collapsible valve system includes: (i) a permanent outer frame (10) that is affixed to the patient using conventional sutures or staples, and (ii) a collapsible valve (20) having a collapsible inner frame (21) that mates with the outer frame (10), and supports valve leaflets (13). The inner frame (21) is moved to a collapsed position and located at the previously installed outer frame (10). The inner frame (21) is then expanded to lock the inner frame (21) to the outer frame (10). The inner frame (21) may be re-collapsed and disengaged from the outer frame (10). A new collapsible valve (20) is then installed, to resume the function of the prosthesis.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.