Methods and Apparatus for Endovascularly Replacing a Heart Valve

Abstract

The invention includes methods of and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; and applying an external non-hydraulically expanding or non-pneumatically expanding actuation force on the anchor to change the shape of the anchor, such as by applying proximally and/or distally directed force on the anchor using a releasable deployment tool to expand and contract the anchor or parts of the anchor. Another aspect of the invention provides an apparatus including a replacement valve; an anchor; and a deployment tool comprising a plurality of anchor actuation elements adapted to apply a non-hydraulically expanding or non-pneumatically expanding actuation force on the anchor to reshape the anchor.

1 - 93 . (canceled)  
   
   
       94 . A delivery device for a prosthetic heart valve, comprising: 
 a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis, the distal end of said catheter body comprising a gripper having a plurality of elongated restraining members near its distal end, wherein each restraining member extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter and has a proximal portion that is attached to the gripper and a distal portion that is not attached to the gripper, thereby defining a central region located internally of the plurality of restraining members and a longitudinal slot between each adjacent pair of restraining members.    
   
   
       95 . The delivery device of  claim 94 , wherein said gripper comprises three or more restraining members.  
   
   
       96 . The delivery device of  claim 94 , further comprising a prosthetic heart valve retained by the restraining members of said gripper.