Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
RETAINING MECHANISMS FOR PROSTHETIC VALVES

Abstract:

Prosthetic valve systems for treating a native valve exhibiting regurgitation can include a support structure in which a separate prosthetic heart valve can be placed. A method for implant a prosthetic valve system can include advancing a first catheter delivery sheath through an introducer sheath and into a left ventricle of a patient's heart, deploying at least a portion of a support structure from the first catheter delivery sheath and positioning the support structure around native leaflets of the patient's native mitral valve, positioning a prosthetic heart valve in a radially collapsed configuration within the patient's native mitral valve, and expanding the prosthetic heart valve from the radially collapsed configuration to a radially expanded configuration, wherein the prosthetic heart valve contacts the native leaflets from within the patient's native mitral valve and is separated from the support structure by the native leaflets.