Prosthesis connecting device

1 . A connecting device comprising at least two receiving means carried by a receiving means holder for receiving a connecting means of a medical device and at least two means for accelerating the connection and/or the introduction of the connecting means with the receiving means, optionally 3, 4, 5, or 6 means for accelerating the connection and/or the introduction of the connecting means;

wherein the means for accelerating the connection and/or the introduction is a leaf spring and wherein the receiving means allows the connecting means only in one direction to engage with the receiving means and the receiving means allows the connecting means only to disengage in a radial direction;

wherein the leaf spring is radially inward relative to the receiving means holder;

wherein the receiving means holder is positioned around a core,

wherein the leaf spring is between the core and the receiving means holder and

wherein the leaf spring, the core and the receiving means holder are components separable from each other,

optionally, wherein the medical device is a prosthesis or a replacement heart valve.

2 . The connecting device according to claim 1 wherein the connecting means is an eyelet of the medical device, and the leaf spring moves in an inward radial direction for receiving the eyelet.

3 . The connecting device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device comprises three leaf springs and three receiving means, or 4, 5, or 6 leaf springs and 4, 5, or 6 receiving means,

wherein each receiving means includes a pocket.

4 . The connecting device according to claim 1 , wherein the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction is made of metal, plastic, or a composite material.

5 . The connecting device of claim 1 , wherein the core carries the at least two means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction, optionally 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction.

6 . The connecting device of claim 1 , wherein each receiving means is aligned with a corresponding one of the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction of the connecting means.

7 . The connecting device of claim 1 , wherein the at least two receiving means are releasable covered by a shaft or a loading tube.

8 . A method for loading a prosthesis onto a delivery device including the connecting device of claim 1 , comprising the steps of:

a. introducing a first connecting means of the medical device into a first receiving means positioned on a delivery system, introducing a second connecting means of said medical device into a second receiving means positioned on said delivery system, optionally introducing another connecting means of the medical device into another receiving means positioned on said delivery system, optionally from inside to outside,

b. connecting the remaining medical device on said delivery device, and

c. optionally performing further crimping actions;

wherein the device includes at least two means for accelerating the connection and/or the introduction of the connecting means with or into the receiving means,

wherein the means for accelerating the connection and/or the introduction is a leaf spring, and

the method includes:

d. disengaging the connecting means from the receiving means in a radial direction.

9 . A delivery device comprising the connecting device of claim 1 , comprising at least an inner shaft to which the connecting device is connected, and wherein the outer shaft is capable of maintaining a stent or replacement heart valve prosthesis in a compressed state.

10 . The connecting device comprising of claim 1 , wherein the receiving means holder is for receiving a prosthesis or replacement heart valve and the at least two of the means for the introduction of the connecting means into the receiving means.

11 . A method for deployment of a medical device, preferably a replacement heart valve prosthesis, using a delivery system wherein the medical device is released in one step or sequentially from the delivery system wherein one or several connecting means are released from the receiving means by way of movement of the outer shaft of the delivery system and in a second step withdrawal of the delivery system and complete release and deployment at a target site, wherein the method includes disengaging the connecting means from the receiving means in a radial direction;

receiving means is carried by a receiving means holder;

wherein the receiving means holder is positioned around a core,

wherein a leaf spring is between the core and the receiving means holder and

wherein the leaf spring, the core and the receiving means holder are components separable from each other.

12 . The method according to claim 11 wherein at least one of the connecting means is maintained in at least one of the receiving means and the medical device can thus be retrieved before complete release from the delivery system.

13 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein at least one of the connecting means is maintained in at least one of the receiving means due to a design variation of the maintained connecting means as compared to the other connection means released from the receiving means or due to an asymmetric design of the outer shaft whereby in a first step of movement all but one connecting means is released and in a second step the maintained connecting means can be released by way of an additional movement of the outer shaft.

14 . A method for retrieval of a partially released and/or deployed medical device and/or retrieval from a target site wherein the medical device is visualized by way of an echo or other useful visualization means, and one or more connecting means of the medical device is introduced into the receiving means and the medical device is at least partially or fully crimped onto the delivery system and optionally can be retrieved from the target site.

15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the delivery system comprises a steerable shaft.

16 . The connecting device of claim 2 , wherein

the connecting device comprises three leaf springs and three receiving means, or 4, 5, or 6 leaf springs and 4, 5, or 6 receiving means;

the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction is made of metal, plastic, or a composite material; and

the receiving means holder is positioned around a core which core carries the at least two means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction, optionally 3, 4, 5, or 6 of the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction.

17 . The connecting device of claim 16 , wherein

each receiving means is aligned with a corresponding one of the means for accelerating the connection and/or introduction of the connecting means; and

the at least two receiving means are releasable covered by a shaft or a loading tube;

wherein the receiving means holder and the leaf spring are separable components and the receiving means is over the leaf spring, wherein contact between the leaf spring and the loading tube is avoided.

18 . A delivery device comprising the connecting device of claim 17 , comprising at least an inner shaft to which the connecting device is connected, and an outer shaft capable of maintaining a stent or replacement heart valve prosthesis in a compressed state.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the connecting means is maintained in at least one of the receiving means due to a design variation of the maintained connecting means as compared to the other connection means released from the receiving means or due to an asymmetric design of the outer shaft whereby in a first step of movement all but one connecting means is released and in a second step the maintained connecting means can be released by way of an additional movement of the outer shaft.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the delivery system comprises a steerable shaft.