HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT TOOLS AND PROCEDURES

摘要

Disclosed are various systems for installing a heart valve within a patient. In a first system, there is provided a heart valve installation assembly (64) and an expandable heart valve ring installation assembly (10), each of which comprises a separate tool. The expandable heart valve ring assembly is provided to position and expand a heart valve ring (12) into engagement with tissue. The valve installation assembly is provided to position and engage the heart valve (70) with the expandable heart valve ring. In a second system, the heart valve installation assemblies and expandable ring installation assemblies are provided on a single tool or instrument (140). Also disclosed are various methods of installing an expandable heart valve ring within a heart and positioning and installing an artificial synthetic heart valve within the expanded heart valve ring.