DELIVERY SYSTEMS FOR PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE
FIG3 is side view of a section of the handle and a section of the distal end portion of the delivery apparatus of FIG1
The guide catheter 14 includes a handle portion 20 and an elongated guide tube, or shaft, 22 extending from handle portion 20 (FIG3). FIG1 shows the delivery apparatus without the guide catheter shaft 22 for purposes of illustration. FIG3 shows the guide catheter shaft 22 extending from the handle portion 20 over the balloon catheter. The balloon catheter 16 includes a proximal portion 24 (FIG1) adjacent handle portion 20 and an elongated shaft 26 that extends from the proximal portion 24 and through handle portion 20 and guide tube 22. The handle portion 20 can include a side arm 27 having an internal passage which fluidly communicates with a lumen defined by the handle portion 20. The distal end portion of the guide catheter shaft 22 comprises a steerable section 68 (FIG3), the curvature of which can be adjusted by the operator to assist in guiding the apparatus through the patient's vasculature, and in particular, the aortic arch. The handle 20 in the illustrated embodiment comprises a distal handle portion 46 and a proximal handle portion 48. The distal handle portion 46 functions as a mechanism for adjusting the curvature of the distal end portion of the guide catheter shaft 22 and as a flex indicating device that allows a user to measure the relative amount of flex of the distal end of the guide catheter shaft 22. In addition, the flex indicating device provides a visual and tactile response at the handle the device, which provides a surgeon with an immediate and direct way to determine the amount of flex of the distal end of the catheter.
side view
20
handle portion
52
indicator pin
76
pin nut guides
66
slot
46
handle portion
68
steerable section
12
valve
48
proximal handle portion
32
nose piece
72
slide nut
22
shaft
62
portion
54
housing main body
124
mounting member
28
balloon
122
distal end
14
guide catheter
56
knob
50
flex activating member
26
shaft shafts
58
shaft
74
double-headed arrow
['1. A delivery device (600) for implantation of a prosthetic device (12) within the body, the prosthetic device (12) being radially expandable from a radially compressed state to a radially expanded state, the delivery device (600) comprising: an inflatable balloon (612); and a proximal stop (614) and a distal stop (618) configured to limit longitudinal movement of the prosthetic device (12) relative to the balloon (612) while the prosthetic device (12) is mounted over the balloon (612) in the radially compressed state between the proximal stop (614) and the distal stop (618), the prosthetic device (12) having a proximal end and a distal end; wherein the proximal stop (614) and the distal stop (618) each comprise an end portion (628, 630) positioned within the balloon (612) and configured to be positioned adjacent a respective end of the prosthetic device (12) when the prosthetic device (12) is radially compressed between the proximal and distal stops (614, 618), each of the end portions (628, 630) comprising at least one longitudinally extending slot (632) that allows the end portion (628, 630) of the respective stop (614, 618) to be radially compressed to a smaller diameter, characterized in that  the proximal stop (614) is configured to abut the proximal end of the prosthetic device (12) and the distal stop (618) is configured to abut the distal end of the prosthetic device (12).', '5. The delivery device (600) of claim 1, wherein the delivery device (600) further comprises an outer shaft (608) having a lumen and an inner shaft (610) extending through the lumen of the outer shaft (608), wherein the proximal stop (614) is attached to a distal end of the outer shaft (608) and/or attached to an outer surface of the inner shaft (610), and wherein the distal stop (618) is attached to an outer surface of the inner shaft (610).', '12. The delivery device (600) of claim 1, in combination with a prosthetic heart valve crimped onto the balloon between the proximal and distal stops (614, 618).']