SHEATH FOR CONTROLLED DELIVERY OF A HEART VALVE PROSTHESIS

摘要

Apparatus and methods are disclosed for controlling deployment of a self - expanding support structure of a prosthetic valve (823) that flares in a proximal direction upon implantation in vivo. A tubular delivery sheath having a side opening (830) that proximally extends within a side wall thereof is used to deploy the prosthetic valve with the self - expanding support structure in a controlled manner. The prosthetic valve is distally advanced within a lumen of the delivery sheath with the self - expanding support structure held in a compressed delivery configuration within the delivery sheath lumen. The self - expanding support structure of the prosthetic valve is aligned with the side opening of the delivery sheath and the prosthetic valve is rotated relative to the delivery sheath whereby the self - expanding support structure is laterally released from the delivery sheath lumen through the side opening to gradually transition from the compressed delivery configuration to a flared deployed configuration.