Delivery systems for prosthetic heart valve

1. A method of implanting a radially compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve of the heart, the method comprising:

introducing a delivery device into the body of a patient, the delivery device comprising a handle portion, an elongated shaft extending from the handle portion, the shaft having a distal end portion mounting an inflatable balloon and a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state;

advancing the distal end portion of the delivery device toward the native heart valve until the prosthetic valve is within or adjacent the annulus of the native heart valve;

positioning the prosthetic heart valve at a desired implantation position within the annulus of the native heart valve;

after the prosthetic heart valve has been moved to the desired implantation position, inflating the balloon to cause the prosthetic heart valve to radially expand and engage the annulus of the native heart valve;

wherein the delivery device comprises a mounting member mounted on the shaft within the balloon; and

wherein when the prosthetic heart valve is being positioned at the desired implantation position, the prosthetic heart valve is mounted on the balloon in the compressed state surrounding the mounting member;

wherein inflating the balloon comprises injecting pressurized inflation fluid into the balloon, which is allowed to flow from a proximal end portion of the balloon, through the mounting member and into a distal end portion of the balloon; and

wherein the inflation fluid follows a fluid flow path that enters the proximal end portion of the balloon outside of the mounting member, then enters a proximal end of the mounting member, travels distally through the mounting member from the proximal end toward a distal end of the mounting member, and then exits through the distal end of the mounting member into space within the distal end portion of the balloon outside of the mounting member, the distal end of the mounting member being located within the distal end portion of the balloon.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the act of advancing comprises pushing the handle portion distally so as to push the delivery device distally through the patient toward the native heart valve; and

the act of positioning the prosthetic heart valve at a desired implantation position comprises rotating an adjustment device coupled to the handle portion and the shaft to cause the shaft and the prosthetic valve to move distally and/or proximally relative to the handle portion until the prosthetic heart valve is at the desired implantation position, wherein the act of positioning the prosthetic heart valve occurs while the prosthetic heart valve is mounted on the balloon and the prosthetic valve is in the radially compressed state.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to positioning the prosthetic heart valve at a desired implantation position, activating a shaft engagement member that frictionally engages an outer surface of the shaft and prevents longitudinal sliding movement of the shaft relative to the handle portion such that rotation of the adjustment device causes longitudinal movement of the shaft and the prosthetic heart valve.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the shaft engagement member comprises a collet disposed on the shaft, the collet comprising a plurality of radially flexible fingers surrounding the outer surface of the shaft, wherein activating the shaft engagement member causes the fingers to press against and frictionally engage the outer surface of the shaft.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the shaft comprises a first shaft and the delivery device comprises a second elongated shaft extending from the handle portion, the first shaft extending co-axially through the second shaft.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:

when the delivery device is being introduced into the patient's body, the prosthetic heart valve is mounted in the compressed state on the first shaft at a first location offset from a second, deployment location on the balloon;

prior to positioning the prosthetic heart valve at the desired implantation position, the prosthetic heart valve is moved longitudinally relative to the first shaft from the first location to the second location on the balloon by moving the second shaft relative to the first shaft in the longitudinal direction, or vice versa; and

rotating the adjustment device to position the prosthetic heart valve at the desired implantation position is effective to move the first shaft and the prosthetic valve distally and/or proximally relative to the second shaft.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein:

the first location of the prosthetic heart valve is a location offset from the mounting member and the second location of the prosthetic heart valve is a location surrounding the mounting member; and

when the prosthetic heart valve is moved to the second location surrounding the mounting member, the prosthetic heart valve frictionally engages the balloon such that movement of the first shaft distally and/or proximally relative to second shaft is effective to cause corresponding movement of the prosthetic heart valve relative to the second shaft.

8. The method of claim 2 , wherein:

the mounting member being contained completely within the balloon; and

when the prosthetic heart valve is being positioned at the desired implantation position, the prosthetic heart valve is mounted on the balloon in the compressed state surrounding the mounting member such that the frictional engagement of the prosthetic heart valve against the balloon is effective to retain the prosthetic heart valve in place on the balloon as the adjustment device is rotated to move the shaft distally and/or proximally relative to the handle portion until the prosthetic heart valve is at the desired implantation position.

9. The method of claim 2 , wherein prior to positioning the prosthetic heart valve at a desired implantation position, activating a shaft engagement member that prevents longitudinal sliding movement of the shaft relative to the handle portion such that rotation of the adjustment device causes longitudinal movement of the shaft and the prosthetic heart valve, wherein activating the shaft engagement member is effective to increase frictional engagement between the shaft engagement member and the shaft to prevent longitudinal sliding movement of the shaft relative to the handle portion.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the mounting member comprises a coiled wire secured to the shaft within the balloon.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein:

the delivery device comprises a tapered member mounted on the shaft inside the balloon and on the shaft; and

when the prosthetic heart valve is being positioned at the desired implantation position, the prosthetic heart valve is mounted on the balloon in the compressed state on the balloon proximal to the tapered member such that the tapered member shields a distal end of the prosthetic heart valve from contacting leaflets of the native heart valve.