METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING A PROCEDURE ON A CARDIAC VALVE

摘要

The present invention comprises a method for deploying an aortic valve prosthesis (200). This valve prosthesis (200) may include any of the known aortic valves including, but not limited to, stented and unstented bioprosthetic valves, stented mechanical valves, and expandable or self-expanding valves, whether biological or artificial. The method involves the steps of: making a first opeing leading to the left atrium (5); passing a valve prosthesis (200) through the opening and into a cardiac chamber of the left side of the heart using a first manipulation instrument (400); making a second opening in the arterial system and advancing one end of a second manipulation instrument (500) through the arterial opening and into the aforementioned cardiac chamber; securing the second manipulation instrument (500) to the valve prosthesis (200); and using the second manipulation instrument (500) to retract at least some portion of the valve prosthesis (200) out of the aforemetioned cardiac chamber.