Catheter for the transvascular implantation of prosthetic heart valves

A catheter for implanting a valve prosthesis, comprising:

• a cartridge unit configured to hold the valve prosthesis in a collapsed state, the valve prosthesis comprising a plurality of support hoops with attachment elements on end regions of the support hoops, the cartridge unit comprising:
• a first sleeved-shaped element comprising anchoring elements on a distal region, wherein the attachment elements engage the anchoring elements;
• a second sleeve-shaped element;
• and
• a third sleeve-shaped element configured to at least partially surround the valve prosthesis such that the plurality of support hoops are radially inward of the third sleeve-shaped element;
• wherein relative axial movement between the second and third sleeve-shaped elements in substantially opposite directions is configured to permit sequential expansion of the valve prosthesis from a collapsed form to an expanded form.

A catheter for implanting a valve prosthesis including a support element and a prosthetic valve attached to the support element, comprising:

• a cartridge unit disposed between proximal and distal ends of the catheter configured to selectively retain the valve prosthesis in a collapsed form, the valve prosthesis comprising:
• a distal end, a proximal end, and a plurality of support hoops extending from the distal end of the support element toward the proximal end of the support element, the support hoops having attachment elements on end regions of the support hoops;
• the cartridge unit comprising:
• a first sleeve-shaped element comprising anchoring elements on a distal region, wherein the attachment elements engage the anchoring elements, a second sleeve-shaped element, and a third sleeve-shaped element configured to at least partially surround the valve prosthesis such that the plurality of support hoops are radially inward of the third sleeve-shaped element, wherein axial movement of the second and third sleeve-shaped elements in substantially opposite directions is configured to permit sequential expansion of the valve prosthesis from a collapsed state to an expanded state such that the plurality of support hoops are biased radially outward and configured to be positioned on a first side of a leaflet of a native valve and a remainder of the valve prosthesis is biased radially outward and configured to be positioned on a second side of the leaflet of the native valve, opposite the first side.

A catheter for implanting a valve prosthesis including a prosthetic valve attached to a support structure having a body portion and a plurality of support hoops with attachment elements on end regions of the support hoops, the catheter comprising:

• a first sleeve-shaped element comprising anchoring elements on a distal region, wherein the attachment elements engage the anchoring elements;
• a second sleeve-shaped element;
• and
• a third sleeve-shaped element configured to at least partially surround the valve prosthesis such that the support hoops are radially inward of the third sleeve-shaped element;
• wherein the is plurality of support hoops are connected to the body portion at a distal end of the body portion and extend toward a proximal end of the body portion;
• and
• wherein axial movement of the second and third sleeve-shaped elements in substantially opposite directions is configured to permit sequential expansion of the valve prosthesis from a collapsed state to an expanded state.

A catheter for transvascular implantation of a valve prosthesis including a self-expanding anchoring support having a body portion and a plurality of support hoops and a prosthetic valve attached to the anchoring support with attachment elements on end regions of the support hoops, the catheter comprising:

• (a) a cartridge unit for carrying the anchoring support and prosthesis and having a flexible tip at its proximal end, the cartridge unit comprising a first sleeve-shaped element including anchoring elements on a distal region, wherein the attachment elements engage the anchoring elements, a second sleeve-shaped element, and a third sleeve-shaped element configured to at least partially surround the valve prosthesis such that the support hoops are radially inward of the third sleeve-shaped element, wherein axial movement of the second and third sleeve-shaped elements in substantially opposite directions is configured to permit sequential expansion of the valve prosthesis from a collapsed state to an expanded state;
• (b) a hollow guide system releasably connected to the cartridge unit at a proximal end of the hollow guide system;
• and
• (c) a manipulating part attached to a distal end of the hollow guide system wherein operating elements are attached at one end to the manipulating part and at the other end to the cartridge unit, the hollow guide system has a bendable region at its proximal end adjacent to the cartridge unit, the hollow guide system is configured to contain a circulating coolant or pharmaceutical preparation;
• and the guide system is substantially liquid proof.