SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR IMPLANTING A PROSTHETIC VALVE WITHIN A NATIVE HEART VALVE

1 . A method of implanting an expandable prosthetic valve within a native mitral valve between a heart atrium and a heart ventricle, the prosthetic valve constrained from expansion during delivery and including an annular valve body, a plurality of ventricular anchors, and a plurality of atrial anchors, the method comprising:

releasing the plurality of ventricular anchors within the atrium;

releasing the plurality of atrial anchors within the atrium;

moving the released ventricular anchors through the mitral valve and into the ventricle; and

after moving the released ventricular anchors from the atrium to the ventricle, releasing the annular valve body, thereby anchoring the prosthetic valve within the mitral valve.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the annular valve body is released within the ventricle.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ventricular anchors are released prior to release of the atrial anchors.

4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein the released ventricular anchors are moved into the ventricle prior to release of the atrial anchors.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the atrial anchors are released prior to release of the ventricular anchors.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the annular valve body is constrained from expansion during release of the ventricular anchors and atrial anchors and during movement of the ventricular anchors into the ventricle.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein terminal ends of the ventricular anchors deflect radially outward relative to the annular valve body when the ventricular anchors are released.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein terminal ends of the atrial anchors deflect radially outward relative to the annular valve body when the atrial anchors are released.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the annular valve body radially expands when released.

10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein release of the annular valve body causes the ventricular anchors and atrial anchors to clamp native valve tissue therebetween.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein an axial distance between the released atrial anchors and the released ventricular anchors is reduced during release of the annular valve body.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the ventricular anchors and the atrial anchors shift radially outward when the annular valve body is released.

13 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

prior to release of the annular valve body, moving the released ventricular anchors in an atrial direction such that the ventricular anchors engage tissue of the native mitral valve.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the ventricular anchors pull distinct portions of the native mitral valve together.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein movement of the released ventricular anchors in the atrial direction occurs prior to release of the atrial anchors.

16 . The method of claim 1 ,

wherein each ventricular anchor includes a connection point to the annular valve body; and

wherein the connection points of the ventricular anchors form:

a first diameter during movement of the ventricular anchors into the ventricle, and

a second diameter after release of the annular valve body, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter.

17 . A method of implanting an expandable prosthetic valve within a native mitral valve between an atrium and a ventricle, the method comprising:

outwardly moving terminal ends of ventricular anchors relative to a portion of an annular valve body positioned within the atrium;

after outwardly moving the terminal ends of the ventricular anchors, advancing at least a portion of the expandable prosthetic valve containing the ventricular anchors through the native mitral valve into the ventricle;

outwardly moving terminal ends of atrial anchors relative to a portion of the annular valve body while the atrial anchors are at least partially positioned within the atrium; and

after outwardly moving the terminal ends of the ventricular anchors and outwardly moving the terminal ends of the atrial anchors, radially expanding the annular valve body, thereby anchoring native heart valve tissue between the atrial anchors and ventricular anchors.

18 . The method of claim 17 ,

wherein the ventricular anchors and the atrial anchors are biased to assume expanded configurations and are constrained in non-expanded configurations, and

wherein outwardly moving the respective terminal ends of the ventricular anchors and the atrial anchors includes respectively releasing constraints on the ventricular anchors and the atrial anchors to thereby enable the ventricular anchors and the atrial anchors to spring outwardly.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein expanding the annular valve body includes releasing the annular valve body from a constraint to thereby enable the annular valve body to expand to a pre-contraction expanded configuration.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein expanding of the annular valve body anchors the prosthetic valve within the native mitral valve.

21 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the annular valve body is expanded within the ventricle.

22 . The method of claim 17 , further comprising:

prior to expanding the annular valve body, advancing the ventricular anchors in an atrial direction such that the ventricular anchors engage tissue of the native mitral valve.