Devices and methods for collapsing prosthetic heart valves

摘要

A crimping tool for use with a collapsible prosthetic valve having a stent frame with a plurality of cell openings, and a valve structure assembled in the stent frame. The crimping tool includes a plurality of resilient tines defining an array around a longitudinal axis of the crimping tool. The array has a first cross-section in an expanded state and a second cross-section less than the first cross-section in a collapsed state. The plurality of tines are adapted to intersect the plurality of cell openings in an assembled position of the crimping tool on the prosthetic valve to prevent pinching of the valve structure by the stent frame as the prosthetic valve is collapsed.

主权项

1. A system for prosthetic heart valve replacement, comprising:
a collapsible prosthetic valve having a stent frame with a plurality of cell openings; and a crimping tool, the crimping tool including:
a handle; anda plurality of resilient tines connected to the handle, the plurality of tines including a plurality of tine pairs defining an array around a longitudinal axis, each of the tines being a member of one of the tine pairs, a distance between the tines in each tine pair being less than a distance between adjacent tine pairs, the array having a first cross-sectional size in an expanded state and a second cross-sectional size less than the first cross-sectional size in a collapsed state, the plurality of tines being adapted to intersect the plurality of cell openings in an assembled position of the crimping tool on the prosthetic valve.