Unitary quick-connect prosthetic heart valve deployment system

A system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• a heart valve including a prosthetic valve defined by a support structure defining an orifice along a valve axis with an undulating shape of alternative cusps and commissures projecting in an outflow direction that supports flexible leaflets that come together in an outflow direction to occlude the orifice, the heart valve further including a balloon-expandable coupling stent having a first end attached to an inflow end thereof opposite the commissures and a second end projecting away therefrom, the coupling stent having a contracted state for delivery to an implant position and an expanded state;
• a handle system connected to an outflow side of the heart valve and having a throughbore that extends from an outflow side to an inflow side of the leaflets;
• and
• a balloon catheter having a balloon that, in a contracted configuration, is sized to pass distally through the throughbore of the handle system and distally past without contacting the heart valve leaflets such that the balloon is positioned to expand the coupling stent.

A system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

• a heart valve including a prosthetic valve having a support structure defining an orifice along a valve axis and flexible leaflets that provide occluding surfaces across the orifice, the heart valve further including a plastically-expandable coupling stent having a first end attached to an inflow end thereof and a second end projecting away therefrom, the coupling stent having a contracted state for delivery to an implant position and an expanded state;
• a valve holder connected to the heart valve on the side opposite to the coupling stent;
• a tubular sleeve having a throughbore connected to the valve holder and extending therefrom through an opening defined by the flexible leaflets;
• and
• a balloon catheter having a balloon that, in a contracted configuration, is sized to pass distally through the valve holder and sleeve and thus through the heart valve leaflets such that the balloon is positioned to expand the coupling stent.