Method and apparatus for resecting and replacing an aortic valve

Abstract

Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve, the apparatus comprising: a body portion; a first handle and a second handle; a cutting blade; a set of retaining arms; a pass-off tool having a first attachment device configured to selectively engage the first handle attached to the body portion so as to allow placement of the second handle of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, and a controller tool having a second attachment device at the distal end thereof, the second attachment device configured to selectively engage the second handle attached to the body portion so as to allow positioning of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, a cutting blade actuator configured to cause the cutting blade to selectively rotate, and a retaining arm actuator configured to selectively position the set of retaining arms from the contracted state to the expanded state.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for implanting a transcatheter heart valve comprising:
 introducing a catheter into a valve region located about a native deficient valve via an incision on the aorta;   advancing a portion of the catheter past the native deficient valve;   positioning a replacement heart valve in a position corresponding to the native deficient valve using the catheter;   securing the replacement heart valve at the position corresponding to the native deficient valve; and   withdrawing the catheter through the incision on the aorta.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the native deficient valve is the aortic valve. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the securing step includes deploying the valve. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein deploying the valve causes the valve to expand. 
     
     
         5 . The method  claim 3 , wherein deploying the valve causes at least a portion of the valve to contact the region corresponding to the native deficient valve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the valve self deploys. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is preformed while the heart is beating. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method is performed while the heart is arrested. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the catheter is advanced past the native deficient valve and into the left ventricle.