Method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve

1. A method of deploying a self-expanding prosthetic valve within a stenotic native aortic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent and a flexible valvular structure mounted within the stent, the method comprising:

providing a delivery sleeve assembly comprising a selectively steerable section and a central lumen, the delivery sleeve assembly further comprising a pusher member extending through the central lumen;

crimping the prosthetic valve;

inserting the prosthetic valve into the distal end portion of the delivery sleeve assembly such that the prosthetic valve is located distal to the pusher member;

pre-dilating leaflets of the native aortic valve for increasing the flow area through the native aortic valve;

advancing the distal end portion of the delivery sleeve assembly through a femoral artery and aorta;

actuating a pull wire for selectively controlling a curvature of the selectively steerable section during further advancement around an aortic arch, the pull wire being permanently fixed to the steerable section of the delivery sleeve assembly;

positioning the prosthetic valve adjacent to the native aortic valve; and

retracting the delivery sleeve assembly relative to the pusher member for ejecting the prosthetic valve from the delivery sleeve assembly and into the native aortic valve, wherein the prosthetic valve self-expands after ejection from the delivery sleeve assembly.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steerable section comprises elongate openings.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the elongate openings are formed by laser cutting.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steerable section comprises a stainless steel hypo-tube.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein pre-dilating the leaflets of the native aortic valve is performed by expanding an expandable balloon within the native aortic valve.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein positioning the prosthetic valve adjacent to the native aortic valve comprises pushing the delivery sleeve assembly in a retrograde direction such that a portion of the delivery sleeve assembly proximal to the prosthetic valve bears against the aortic arch and such that the prosthetic valve crosses the native aortic valve.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising adjusting the curvature of the steerable section by actuation of the pull wire to align the prosthetic valve with respect to the center of the native valve prior to advancing the prosthetic valve across the native valve.

8. A method of deploying a self-expanding prosthetic valve in a native aortic valve without surgery, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent and a flexible valvular structure formed of pericardial tissue and sutured to the stent, the method comprising:

providing a delivery sleeve assembly comprising a selectively steerable section and a central lumen, the delivery sleeve assembly further comprising a pusher member extending through the central lumen;

crimping the prosthetic valve;

inserting the prosthetic valve into the delivery sleeve assembly such that the prosthetic valve is located distal to the pusher member;

advancing the prosthetic valve, pusher, tubular sleeve and steerable section through a femoral artery and an aorta;

actuating a pull wire for selectively controlling a curvature of the selectively steerable section of the delivery sleeve assembly during advancement around an aortic arch;

advancing the pusher member and prosthetic valve relative to the delivery sleeve assembly for ejecting the prosthetic valve within the native aortic valve; and

allowing the prosthetic valve to self-expand expand, wherein the stent of the prosthetic valve has a first portion configured to engage leaflets of the native aortic valve and a second portion configured to engage an inner wall of an ascending aorta and wherein the first portion has a smaller diameter than the second portion.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the steerable section is formed with a material having a soft durometer for facilitating flexing of the steerable section.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pull wire is actuated by a rotatable handle assembly and wherein the rotatable handle assembly is located proximal to the delivery sleeve assembly.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein a distal end of the pusher member is configured to abut a proximal end of the prosthetic valve for pushing the prosthetic valve out of the delivery system.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pull wire has a proximal end portion connected to a handle mechanism and wherein actuating the handle mechanism pulls the pull wire proximally to bend the selectively steerable section.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising advancing the prosthetic valve in a retrograde direction through the aortic arch such that a portion of the delivery sleeve proximal to the prosthetic valve bears against an inner surface of the aortic arc while actuating the pull wire to steer the prosthetic valve away from the inner surface of the aortic toward the center of the native aortic valve.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising further advancing the prosthetic valve until the first portion of the stent crosses the native aortic valve.