Heart valve holder assembly for use in valve implantation procedures

A valve holder assembly for a prosthetic valve having a stent comprising a stent ring and multiple commissure posts extending from the stent ring, the valve holder assembly comprising:

• a holder comprising:
• a base ring having a central opening;
• a plurality of legs extending in a generally downward direction from the base ring, each of the plurality of legs comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• and
• at least one flexible finger extending in a generally downward direction from the base ring,
• wherein the distal end of each of the legs is engageable with the stent ring between adjacent commissure posts;
• a rotor positioned within the central opening of the base ring, the rotor comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a circumferential groove adjacent to the distal end of the rotor and comprising a plurality of ratchet teeth spaced from each other around at least a portion of the groove, wherein the at least one finger of the holder is engaged with the circumferential groove of the rotor;
• and
• a handle extending from the proximal end of the rotor for rotation of the rotor relative to the holder.

A method of implanting a prosthetic valve in a patient, the prosthetic valve including a stent comprising a stent ring and multiple commissure posts extending from the stent ring, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a valve holder assembly comprising:
• a holder comprising a base ring having a central opening, a plurality of legs extending in a generally downward direction from the base ring, each of the plurality of legs comprising a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end of each of the legs is engageable with the stent ring between adjacent commissure posts, and at least one flexible finger extending in a generally downward direction from the base ring;
• a rotor positioned within the central opening of the base ring, the rotor comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one ratchet arm at the proximal end of the rotor, wherein a portion of the at least one finger of the holder is engaged with the circumferential groove of the rotor;
• and
• a handle extending from the proximal end of the rotor for rotation of the rotor relative to the holder;
• attaching the valve holder assembly to the stent of the prosthetic valve using a plurality of suture members;
• rotating the rotor relative to the holder to generally simultaneously deflect the multiple commissure posts of the stent inwardly;
• positioning the valve holder assembly with the attached prosthetic valve in an implantation site of a patient;
• attaching the prosthetic valve to the tissue of the patient;
• detaching the prosthetic valve from the valve holder assembly;
• and
• removing the valve holder assembly from the patient.

A valve holder assembly for a prosthetic valve having a stent comprising a stent ring and multiple commissure posts extending from the stent ring, the valve holder assembly comprising:

• a holder comprising:
• a base ring having a central opening, a top side that faces in a direction that is generally opposite the downward direction that the plurality of legs extend, and a recessed portion on the top side;
• and
• a plurality of legs extending in a generally downward direction from the base ring, each of the plurality of legs comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
• wherein the distal end of each of the legs is engageable with the stent ring between adjacent commissure posts;
• a rotor positioned within the central opening of the base ring, the rotor comprising a proximal end, a distal end, and at least one ratchet arm at the proximal end of the rotor;
• and
• a handle extending from the proximal end of the rotor for rotation of the rotor relative to the holder;
• wherein the at least one ratchet arm of the rotor is positioned in the recessed portion of the base ring.