Heart valve prosthesis delivery system

1. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a proximal sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a proximal sheath lumen, the proximal sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the proximal sheath lumen, the proximal sheath component being proximally retractable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal carrier assembly comprising a distal enclosure and a proximal enclosure, the distal enclosure being coupled to the core member and comprising a distal lumen, the distal enclosure being configured to receive a distal portion of the valve frame within the distal lumen in a compressed configuration, the proximal enclosure being coupled to the core member proximal to the distal enclosure and comprising a proximal lumen, the proximal enclosure being configured to receive a proximal portion of the valve frame within the proximal lumen in a compressed configuration, wherein the proximal enclosure is separable relative to the distal enclosure; and

a plunger mechanism and a biasing means disposed within the distal lumen of the distal carrier assembly, the plunger mechanism being moveable between a distal position and a proximal position within the distal lumen, the plunger mechanism being biased toward the proximal position by the biasing means for urging the valve frame out of the distal lumen.

2. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger mechanism comprises a plunger head that is moveable between the distal position and the proximal position within the distal lumen, the plunger head being biased toward the proximal position by the biasing means.

3. The delivery device of claim 2 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring, the spring being interposed between a proximal face of the distal enclosure and a distal face of the plunger head.

4. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger mechanism comprises a proximal portion that tapers in a proximal direction.

5. The delivery device of claim 4 , wherein in the proximal position, the plunger mechanism extends at least partially proximally out of the distal lumen, the proximal enclosure being distally advanceable over the tapered proximal portion of the plunger mechanism to align an outer surface of the distal enclosure with an outer surface of the proximal enclosure for facilitating removal of the delivery device from a patient.

6. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the proximal enclosure comprises a proximal section having an outer diameter smaller than an inner diameter of the proximal lumen, and wherein when a valve anchor is loaded onto the delivery device, the valve anchor extends between the proximal section and the proximal sheath component in a loaded configuration.

7. The delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the proximal section tapers in a proximal direction.

8. The delivery device of claim 6 , wherein the proximal section has a plurality of circumferential nodes, the plurality of circumferential nodes extending proximally from a proximal abutment surface of the proximal enclosure.

9. The delivery device of claim 8 , wherein the valve anchor comprises a plurality of U-shaped members, and wherein the proximal section has a plurality of circumferential cavities each configured to receive a respective U-shaped member of the valve anchor when the valve anchor is loaded onto the delivery device in a compressed configuration.

10. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

11. The delivery device of claim 1 , wherein the plunger mechanism comprises a plunger head with a plurality of petals extending from the plunger head, wherein the plurality of petals each form a ramped surface.

12. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a sheath lumen, the sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the sheath lumen, the sheath component being moveable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor;

a plurality of grasper components disposed within the sheath component and extending along the elongate core member, wherein a distal end of the plurality of grasper components is configured to each engage with the valve anchor for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal hub, separate from the plurality of grasper components, disposed near a distal end of the elongate core member, wherein the distal hub is coupled to the plurality of grasper components to align each of the distal ends of the plurality of grasper components in a common plane as the sheath component is bent, wherein the distal hub is bonded to a tubular enclosure of each of the plurality of grasper components.

13. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the distal hub comprises a plurality of passages to permit the plurality of grasper components to pass therethrough.

14. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the distal hub comprises a core member passage to permit the elongate core member to pass therethrough.

15. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 14 , wherein the core member passage is offset from a central axis of the distal hub.

16. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the distal hub is located approximately 1 to 4 inches from the distal end of at least one of the plurality of grasper components.

17. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the distal hub is movable relative to the elongate core member.

18. The valve prosthesis delivery device of claim 12 , wherein the distal hub comprises a generally cylindrical shape.

19. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a sheath lumen, the sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the sheath lumen, the sheath component being moveable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor;

a plurality of grasper components disposed within the sheath component and extending along the elongate core member, wherein a distal end of the plurality of grasper components is configured to each engage with the valve anchor for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal hub, separate from the plurality of grasper components, disposed near a distal end of the elongate core member, wherein the distal hub is coupled to the plurality of grasper components to align each of the distal ends of the plurality of grasper components in a common plane as the sheath component is bent, wherein the distal hub comprises a core member passage to permit the elongate core member to pass therethrough and the core member passage is offset from a central axis of the distal hub.

20. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a sheath lumen, the sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the sheath lumen, the sheath component being moveable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor;

a plurality of grasper components disposed within the sheath component and extending along the elongate core member, wherein a distal end of the plurality of grasper components is configured to each engage with the valve anchor for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal hub, separate from the plurality of grasper components, disposed near a distal end of the elongate core member, wherein the distal hub is coupled to the plurality of grasper components to align each of the distal ends of the plurality of grasper components in a common plane as the sheath component is bent, wherein the distal hub is located approximately 1 to 4 inches from the distal end of at least one of the plurality of grasper components.

21. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a sheath lumen, the sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the sheath lumen, the sheath component being moveable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor;

a plurality of grasper components disposed within the sheath component and extending along the elongate core member, wherein a distal end of the plurality of grasper components is configured to each engage with the valve anchor for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal hub, separate from the plurality of grasper components, disposed near a distal end of the elongate core member, wherein the distal hub is coupled to the plurality of grasper components to align each of the distal ends of the plurality of grasper components in a common plane as the sheath component is bent, wherein the distal hub is movable relative to the elongate core member.

22. A valve prosthesis delivery device for delivering a valve prosthesis, the valve prosthesis comprising a valve frame and a valve anchor, the delivery device comprising:

an elongate core member extending along a longitudinal axis of the device;

a sheath component slidably coupled to the core member and comprising a sheath lumen, the sheath component being configured to receive at least a portion of the valve anchor within the sheath lumen, the sheath component being moveable relative to the core member for permitting expansion of the valve anchor;

a plurality of grasper components disposed within the sheath component and extending along the elongate core member, wherein a distal end of the plurality of grasper components is configured to each engage with the valve anchor for permitting expansion of the valve anchor; and

a distal hub, separate from the plurality of grasper components, disposed near a distal end of the elongate core member, wherein the distal hub is coupled to the plurality of grasper components to align each of the distal ends of the plurality of grasper components in a common plane as the sheath component is bent, wherein the distal hub comprises a generally cylindrical shape.