Holder for heart valve prostheses, corresponding storage arrangement, delivery instrument and kit

1. A holder coupleable to a delivery instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses, the delivery instrument including a handle, a delivery sheath displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument, and a shaft including a connector member coupleable to the holder, the holder comprising:

a hub portion having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;

an engagement portion coupled to the hub portion and including a plurality of finger members variably positionable relative to the hub portion between a collapsed condition, wherein at least some of the plurality of finger members are closed onto the hub portion, and an expanded condition, wherein the plurality of finger members radially protrude with respect to the hub portion for engaging a heart valve prosthesis, wherein one or more of the plurality of finger members are L-shaped and include a body portion and a distal portion located at a distal end of the body portion, the body portion having a proximal end connected to the hub portion and a first thickness from the proximal end to the distal end, and the distal portion having a second thickness that is greater than the first thickness to define an axial abutment surface for the heart valve prosthesis; and

a plurality of radially protruding formations coupled to the distal end of the hub portion and configured to engage and hold the distal portion of each of the plurality of finger members in the collapsed condition and to be unengaged with the distal portion of each of the plurality of finger members in the expanded condition;

wherein, with the delivery sheath in a fully retracted position, the holder is configured for coupling to a prosthetic heart valve, and the delivery sheath is displaceable axially towards an advanced position, whereby the relative movement between the delivery sheath and the holder is configured to cause a radial contraction of at least one of the finger members together with the heart valve prosthesis and loading of the heart valve prosthesis into the delivery sheath.

2. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of finger members are resiliently positionable relative to the hub portion.

3. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the body portion includes at least one of: being substantially rectilinear, curvature in a radial plane of the holder, and having a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface.

4. The holder of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of finger members includes at least three finger members equally angularly spaced around the hub portion.

5. A holder coupleable to a delivery instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses, the delivery instrument including a handle, a delivery sheath displaceable along a longitudinal axis of the delivery instrument, and a shaft including a connector member coupleable to the holder, the holder comprising:

a hub portion having a longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end;

an engagement portion coupled to the hub portion and including a plurality of extensions each having a proximal end and a distal end, the plurality of extensions variably positionable relative to the hub portion between a collapsed condition, wherein the plurality of extensions are closed onto the hub portion, and an expanded condition, wherein the plurality of extensions radially protrude with respect to the hub portion for engaging a heart valve prosthesis; and

a plurality of radially protruding formations coupled to the distal end of the hub portion and configured to engage and hold the distal end of each of the plurality of extensions in the collapsed condition and to be unengaged with the distal end of each of the plurality of extensions in the expanded condition;

wherein, with the delivery sheath in a fully retracted position, the holder is configured for coupling to a prosthetic heart valve, and the delivery sheath is displaceable axially towards an advanced position, whereby the relative movement between the delivery sheath and the holder is configured to cause a radial contraction of at least one of the plurality of extensions together with the heart valve prosthesis and loading of the heart valve prosthesis into the delivery sheath.

6. The holder of claim 5 , wherein at least some of the plurality of extensions include an engagement feature.

7. The holder of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of extensions are resiliently positionable relative to the hub portion.

8. The holder of claim 5 , wherein one or more of the plurality of extensions are L-shaped and include a body portion and a distal portion located at a distal end of the body portion and defining an axial abutment surface for a heart valve prosthesis.

9. The holder of claim 8 , wherein the body portion includes at least one of: being substantially rectilinear, curvature in a radial plane of the holder, and having a concave outer surface and a convex inner surface.

10. The holder of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of extensions includes at least three extensions equally angularly spaced around the hub portion.