Prosthetic heart valve delivery system

Abstract

A valve prosthesis and a system for delivering a valve prosthesis are described herein. The system can include a core member and an engagement mechanism for releasably engaging a radially expandable valve anchor of the valve prosthesis along the core member. The engagement mechanism can include a pin assembly slidably coupled to the core member and a nose cone including a lock component slidably coupled along the core member to permit the valve anchor to disengage from the pin assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery system for delivering a valve prosthesis, the delivery system comprising:
 a core member extending longitudinally;   a lock component fixedly coupled to the core member, the lock component comprising a plurality of lock apertures; and   a pin assembly slidably coupled to the core member and movable relative to the lock component, wherein the pin assembly comprises a plurality of pins extending proximally through a plurality of connection apertures of the valve prosthesis and through the plurality of lock apertures to engage the valve prosthesis to the delivery system.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pin assembly comprises a tubular component coupled thereto and extending proximally beyond the lock component. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the pin assembly comprises an annular component at least partially surrounding the core member, wherein the plurality of pins extends proximally from the annular component. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the annular component of the pin assembly comprises a cylindrical piston member. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the piston member comprises opposing proximal and distal plates, the proximal plate comprising at least one aperture though which at least one pin extends, wherein a portion of the at least one pin is interposed and engaged between the proximal and distal plates. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein a distal end of each of the plurality of pins is bent. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the annular component comprises a disc shape, a cylindrical shape, or a torus shape. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pusher component slidable along the core member and relative to the lock component. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the pusher component is movable along the core member to contact the pin assembly and cause disengagement of the valve prosthesis from the delivery system. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the pusher component comprises a shaft component configured to extend through the lock component to facilitate movement of the pin assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the pusher component is configured to contact a tubular component of the pin assembly to facilitate movement of the pin assembly. 
     
     
         12 . A delivery system for delivering a valve prosthesis, the system comprising:
 a core member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal end portions; and   an engagement mechanism coupled to the distal end portion of the core member for releasably engaging the valve prosthesis, the engagement mechanism comprising:   a pin assembly coupled to and movable along the core member, the pin assembly comprising an annular component and at least one pin coupled to the annular component and extending in a direction away from the distal end portion, the at least one pin being radially spaced apart from the core member; and   a lock component fixedly coupled to the core member proximal to the annular component, the lock component comprising at least one lock aperture configured to permit the at least one pin to extend therethrough, the lock component and the pin assembly collectively forming an engagement region therebetween for engaging a portion of the valve prosthesis,   wherein the pin assembly is slidable distally relative to the lock component to distally advance the at least one pin out of the engagement region to disengage the pin assembly from the portion of the valve prosthesis.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the pin assembly comprises a plurality of pins and the lock component comprises a plurality of lock apertures each corresponding to one of the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the pin assembly comprises a tubular component coupled thereto and extending proximally beyond the lock component. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the annular component at least partially surrounds the core member and the at least one pin extends proximally from the annular component. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the annular component of the pin assembly comprises a cylindrical piston member. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein the piston member comprises opposing proximal and distal plates, the proximal plate comprising at least one aperture though which the at least one pin extends, wherein a portion of the at least one pin is interposed and engaged between the proximal and distal plates. 
     
     
         18 . A delivery system, the system comprising:
 a valve prosthesis comprising a valve anchor and a support frame movably coupled to the valve, wherein the valve anchor comprises a plurality of rounded base portions and a plurality of anchoring legs interconnected with and alternatingly interposed between the plurality of rounded base portions, wherein each of the anchoring legs has a proximal end joined to a rounded base portion and a distal end having a connection aperture;   a core member having a proximal end portion, a distal end portion, and a longitudinal axis extending between the proximal and distal end portions; and   an engagement mechanism coupled to the distal end portion of the core member for releasably engaging the valve prosthesis, the engagement mechanism comprising:   a pin assembly coupled to and movable along the core member, the pin assembly comprising an annular component and at least one pin coupled to the annular component and extending in a direction away from the distal end portion, the at least one pin being radially spaced apart from the core member; and   a lock component fixedly coupled to the core member proximal to the annular component, the lock component comprising at least one lock aperture configured to permit the at least one pin to extend therethrough, the lock component and the pin assembly collectively forming an engagement region therebetween for engaging the connection aperture of each of the anchoring legs,   wherein the pin assembly is slidable distally relative to the core member and the lock component to distally advance the at least one pin out of the engagement region to disengage the pin assembly from the portion of the valve prosthesis.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pin assembly comprises a plurality of pins and the lock component comprises a plurality of lock apertures each corresponding to one of the plurality of pins. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the pin assembly comprises a tubular component coupled thereto and extending proximally beyond the lock component.