Dry prosthetic heart valve packaging system

A packaging assembly for storing a bioprosthetic heart valve without a liquid preservative, the packaging assembly comprising:

• a holder for securing the bioprosthetic heart valve;
• a substantially planar clip configured to secure the holder, the clip comprising one or more gas flow channels and a slot defined from a peripheral edge of the clip to a terminal end, the slot being sized and configured to securely engage the holder;
• a clamshell member comprising a lower half configured to secure the clip and to limit the rotational movement of the clip and an upper half configured to engage the lower half and limit the vertical movement of the clip;
• a primary package comprising an open end, a ledge and a cavity extending downwardly therefrom, the ledge and the clamshell member being frictionally engaged to limit rotational movement of the clamshell member;
• and
• a gas-permeable lid configured to seal the open end of the primary package;
• wherein the clip, the clamshell member and the primary package are in discontinuous engagement to permit gas flow in and around the bioprosthetic heart valve;
• and
• wherein the lower half of the clamshell member comprises an annular rim above a lower ledge, the lower ledge including clip supports and an anti-rotation projection and the clip being sized to fit within the annular rim and rest on the clip supports, the anti-rotation projection being sized to fit closely within the slot of the clip and preventing rotation of the clip in the clamshell member.