Apparatus and method for implanting collapsible/expandable prosthetic heart valves

1. An apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient comprising:

a hollow, tubular, longitudinal, outer shaft extending from a proximal portion of the apparatus to a distal portion of the apparatus;

a longitudinal inner shaft disposed inside the outer shaft, the inner shaft being longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft;

a tip structure mounted on a distal portion of the inner shaft for substantially closing a distal end of the outer shaft when the inner shaft is pulled proximally back relative to the outer shaft;

a prosthetic heart valve disposed around the inner shaft proximal of the tip structure and inside a distal portion of the outer shaft, the prosthetic valve being releasable from the apparatus when the tip structure is moved distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft and the prosthetic valve is shifted distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft; and

a toroidal structure disposed concentrically around the outer shaft, the toroidal structure being movable along a length of the outer shaft.

2. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a handle structure attached to a proximal portion of the outer shaft.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 2 , wherein the toroidal structure is positioned distally of the handle structure, the apparatus further comprising:

a resilient structure for resiliently urging the toroidal structure to move in a distal direction along the outer shaft.

4. The apparatus defined in claim 3 wherein the toroidal structure has blood-sealing engagement with an outer surface of the outer shaft.

5. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the prosthetic valve is resiliently biased to expand radially outwardly when released from confinement to a collapsed size that fits within the outer shaft.

6. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a native leaflet displacing structure deployable from the distal end of the outer shaft when the tip structure moves distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft, the native leaflet displacing structure being resiliently biased to enlarge radially outwardly when deployed from the distal end of the outer shaft.

7. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising:

an actuator structure mounted in the handle structure for moving the inner shaft longitudinally relative to the outer shaft.

8. The apparatus defined in claim 2 further comprising:

a connector structure mounted on the handle structure, the connector structure including a lumen that connects to a lumen structure through the inner shaft and the tip structure.

9. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a collar structure around the inner shaft and spaced in the proximal direction from the tip structure, the prosthetic valve being positioned between the collar structure and the tip structure.

10. The apparatus defined in claim 9 wherein a proximal end of the prosthetic valve bears on the collar structure.

11. The apparatus defined in claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of strands for releasably securing the prosthetic valve to the collar structure.

12. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein each of the strands loops through the proximal portion of the prosthetic valve and then extends proximally from the prosthetic valve inside the outer shaft.

13. The apparatus defined in claim 11 wherein each of the strands extends through the collar structure, around the prosthetic valve, to the tip structure.

14. The apparatus defined in claim 13 wherein each of the strands loops through the tip structure, and then back to the proximal portion of the apparatus.

15. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a sheath structure around the prosthetic valve inside the outer shaft, the sheath structure being longitudinally shiftable relative to the outer shaft.

16. The apparatus defined in claim 15 wherein the sheath structure is additionally longitudinally shiftable relative to the inner shaft.

17. The apparatus defined in claim 16 wherein the sheath structure is additionally longitudinally shiftable to expose the prosthetic valve for deployment in the patient.

18. The apparatus defined in claim 17 wherein, after the sheath structure has been shifted to expose the prosthetic valve, the sheath structure is further shiftable to again enclose the prosthetic valve.

19. The apparatus defined in claim 8 further comprising:

embolic protection structure selectively deployable through the lumen structure distally beyond the tip structure.

20. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the embolic protection structure is resiliently biased to expand radially outwardly when deployed distally beyond the tip structure.

21. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the embolic protection structure deploys to form a blood filter.

22. The apparatus defined in claim 20 wherein the embolic protection structure is collapsible to re-enter the lumen structure.

23. The apparatus defined in claim 19 wherein the embolic protection structure includes elements for pushing leaflets of a patient's native heart valve radially outwardly.

24. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein the apparatus is configured for delivery of the prosthetic valve via the apex of the patient's heart.

25. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the shafts is substantially laterally rigid.

26. The apparatus defined in claim 1 wherein both of the shafts are laterally flexible along at least a portion of their lengths.

27. The apparatus defined in claim 1 further comprising:

embolic protection structure selectively deployable distally from the tip structure.

28. An apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient comprising:

a hollow, tubular, longitudinal, outer shaft extending from a proximal portion of the apparatus to a distal portion of the apparatus;

a longitudinal inner shaft disposed inside the outer shaft, the inner shaft being longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft;

a tip structure mounted on a distal portion of the inner shaft for substantially closing a distal end of the outer shaft when the inner shaft is pulled proximally back relative to the outer shaft;

a prosthetic heart valve disposed around the inner shaft proximal of the tip structure and inside a distal portion of the outer shaft, the prosthetic valve being releasable from the apparatus when the tip structure is moved distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft and the prosthetic valve is shifted distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft; and

a native leaflet displacing structure deployable from the distal end of the outer shaft when the tip structure moves distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft, the native leaflet displacing structure being resiliently biased to enlarge radially outwardly when deployed from the distal end of the outer shaft.

29. An apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient comprising:

a hollow, tubular, longitudinal, outer shaft extending from a proximal portion of the apparatus to a distal portion of the apparatus;

a longitudinal inner shaft disposed inside the outer shaft, the inner shaft being longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft;

a tip structure mounted on a distal portion of the inner shaft for substantially closing a distal end of the outer shaft when the inner shaft is pulled proximally back relative to the outer shaft;

a prosthetic heart valve disposed around the inner shaft proximal of the tip structure and inside a distal portion of the outer shaft, the prosthetic valve being releasable from the apparatus when the tip structure is moved distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft and the prosthetic valve is shifted distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft; and

a sheath structure around the prosthetic valve inside the outer shaft, the sheath structure being longitudinally shiftable relative to the outer shaft.