US 12,263,085 B2
Method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve
David M. Taylor, Lake Forest, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/221,990.
Application 18/221,990 is a continuation of application No. 17/235,800, filed on Apr. 20, 2021, granted, now 11,744,704.
Application 17/235,800 is a continuation of application No. 16/709,806, filed on Dec. 10, 2019, granted, now 11,039,920, issued on Jun. 22, 2021.
Application 16/709,806 is a continuation of application No. 16/200,431, filed on Nov. 26, 2018, granted, now 10,517,721, issued on Dec. 31, 2019.
Application 16/200,431 is a continuation of application No. 15/893,478, filed on Feb. 9, 2018, granted, now 10,799,349, issued on Oct. 13, 2020.
Application 15/893,478 is a continuation of application No. 14/704,866, filed on May 5, 2015, granted, now 9,907,651, issued on Mar. 6, 2018.
Application 14/704,866 is a continuation of application No. 13/774,848, filed on Feb. 22, 2013, granted, now 9,028,545, issued on May 12, 2015.
Application 13/774,848 is a continuation of application No. 12/855,378, filed on Aug. 12, 2010, granted, now 8,382,826, issued on Feb. 26, 2013.
Application 12/855,378 is a continuation of application No. 11/152,288, filed on Jun. 13, 2005, granted, now 7,780,723, issued on Aug. 24, 2010.
Prior Publication US 2023/0355384 A1, Nov. 9, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01); A61M 25/01 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2427 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2433 (2013.01); A61F 2/2436 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0069 (2013.01); A61M 25/0138 (2013.01); A61M 25/0147 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of implanting a balloon expandable prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a patient, the method comprising:
introducing a delivery system into a femoral artery of the patient, the delivery system comprising an outer sleeve and a shaft extending through a lumen of the outer sleeve, wherein a distal end portion of the shaft is positioned distal to a distal end of a steerable distal end portion of the outer sleeve, and a prosthetic valve is crimped over a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the shaft, wherein the delivery system further comprises a first radiopaque marker inside the balloon and positioned adjacent a proximal end of the prosthetic valve and a second radiopaque marker inside the balloon and positioned adjacent a distal end of the prosthetic valve, wherein the distal end of the steerable distal end portion is a free end and the prosthetic valve is positioned distal to the free end as the delivery system is introduced into the femoral artery;
identifying a location of the prosthetic valve by monitoring the first and second radiopaque markers inside the balloon under fluoroscopy;
selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable distal end portion so as to advance the prosthetic valve through an aortic arch of the patient, wherein the outer sleeve does not cover the prosthetic valve as the prosthetic valve is introduced into the femoral artery of the patient and advanced through the aortic arch;
wherein selectively controlling the curvature of the steerable distal end portion comprises tensioning a pull wire, wherein the pull wire has a distal end portion fixedly connected to the steerable distal end portion;
positioning the prosthetic valve at a target site within the native aortic valve; and radially expanding the prosthetic valve by inflating the balloon.