Low crossing profile delivery catheter for cardiovascular prosthetic implant

Abstract

A delivery catheter and a method for deploying a cardiovascular prosthetic implant using a minimally invasive procedure are disclosed. The delivery catheter comprises an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the distal end has an outer diameter of 18 French or less, a cardiovascular prosthetic implant at the distal end of the catheter body, wherein the cardiovascular prosthetic implant comprises an inflatable cuff and a tissue valve coupled to the inflatable cuff, and at least one link between the catheter body and the cardiovascular prosthetic implant.

1 .- 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A delivery catheter for deploying a cardiovascular prosthetic implant using a minimally invasive procedure, wherein the delivery catheter comprises:
 an elongate, flexible catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end;   a cardiovascular prosthetic implant at the distal end of the catheter body,
 wherein the cardiovascular prosthetic implant comprises an inflatable cuff and a tissue valve, the inflatable cuff comprising inflation channels, the inflation channels including at least an inflation valve, a connection port, and a check valve, and 
 wherein the cardiovascular prosthetic implant is positioned within the distal end of the catheter body such that the inflation valve, the connection port, and the check valve are aligned with respect to a longitudinal axis of the catheter body and do not overlap with each other; and 
   at least one link between the catheter body and the cardiovascular prosthetic implant.