Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
Implant delivery capsule

Abstract:

A delivery system for delivering a stent-mounted heart valve, or other implant, through an introducer sheath. The delivery system includes an elongate catheter supporting a capsule. The capsule contains the stent-mounted heart valve in the crimped condition. The capsule includes a protrusion extending from its outer surface for urging the sheath away from the outer surface capsule as it moves therethrough, thereby reducing an average peak push force resulting from advancement of the capsule through the sheath.