Importance

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Abstract

A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly. A pull wire travels from the handle to a distal end of the delivery sleeve assembly. Actuation of the handle pulls on the pull wire, which causes the delivery sleeve assembly to bend for facilitating navigation through a patient's vasculature. A stretchable cover is preferably placed over the slotted tube for biasing the steerable catheter toward a straight position. Once advanced to the vicinity of the native valve site, the prosthetic valve may be accurately positioned by advancing the balloon catheter relative to the delivery sleeve assembly and then deployed within the native valve site by inflating the balloon. In an alternative embodiment, the delivery sleeve assembly may be used to advance a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve through a patient's vasculature and a pusher member may be used to eject the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.

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First Claim