Delivery system for prosthetic heart valve

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

a handle portion;

an elongated shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion, the shaft comprising a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state;

the handle portion comprising a control member movable longitudinally with respect to the handle portion to effect longitudinal motion of the elongated shaft relative to the handle portion, the control member having a grip portion;

the handle portion further comprising a rotatable member coupled to the handle portion, the rotatable member being configured to adjust a curvature of the elongated shaft;

wherein the grip portion of the control member is movable distally and proximally of the rotatable member by longitudinal motion of the control member.

2. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control member comprises a base member disposed within the handle portion and coupled to the elongated shaft, and a lever member extending from the base member out of the handle portion, the grip portion being a part of the lever member.

3. The delivery apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the handle portion defines a longitudinally extending slot; and

the lever member of the control member is movable within the slot.

4. The delivery apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the lever member of the control member further comprises a biasing member configured to bias the lever member away from the handle portion.

5. The delivery apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the biasing member comprises a protrusion configured to engage teeth located along the slot of the handle portion.

6. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the rotatable member is hollow; and

at least a portion of the control member is movable into and out of the rotatable member.

7. The delivery apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the control member comprises a base member disposed within the handle portion and a lever member extending from the base member out of the handle portion, and the base member is movable into and out of the rotatable member.

8. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control member engages a gear assembly operable to convert longitudinal motion of the control member to rotational motion of the gear assembly, the gear assembly engaging the elongated shaft such that rotational motion of the gear assembly causes longitudinal motion of the elongated shaft.

9. The delivery apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the grip portion of the control member is proximal of the gear assembly.

10. The delivery apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the gear assembly is a compound gear including a first gear operatively connected to the control member and a second gear operatively connected to the elongated shaft.

11. The delivery apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the first and second gears are situated on opposite sides of the elongated shaft and coupled to a gear shaft extending transverse to the elongated shaft.

12. The delivery apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the gear assembly further comprises:

a first rack gear member coupled to the control member and comprising a plurality of teeth configured to engage the first gear; and

a second rack gear member coupled to the elongated shaft on the opposite side of the elongated shaft from the first rack gear member, the second rack gear member comprising a plurality of teeth configured to engage the second gear.

13. The delivery apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the elongated shaft is a balloon catheter shaft;

the delivery apparatus further comprises a steerable guide shaft disposed coaxially about the balloon catheter shaft; and

the rotatable member is coupled to a proximal end portion of the steerable guide shaft by a pull wire such that rotation of the rotatable member adjusts a curvature of a distal end portion of the steerable guide shaft.

14. A method of using the delivery apparatus of claim 1 , comprising:

introducing the delivery apparatus into the body of a patient, the distal end portion of the elongated shaft comprising a prosthetic heart valve mounted thereon in a radially compressed state;

advancing the distal end portion of the elongated shaft toward a native heart valve of the patient until the prosthetic heart valve is within or adjacent the aortic arch, wherein the act of advancing comprises pushing the handle portion distally so as to push the delivery apparatus distally through the patient toward the native heart valve;

steering the delivery apparatus through the aortic arch by rotating the rotatable member to adjust of a curvature of the elongated shaft;

axially positioning the prosthetic heart valve at a desired implantation position by axially moving the grip portion of the lever member; and

radially expanding the prosthetic heart valve to engage the annulus of the native heart valve.

15. A delivery apparatus for implanting a radially compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve of the heart, the apparatus comprising:

a handle portion;

an elongated shaft extending from and movable relative to the handle portion, the shaft comprising a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion configured to mount a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state;

the handle portion comprising a control member movable longitudinally with respect to the handle portion to effect corresponding longitudinal motion of the elongated shaft relative to the handle portion;

the handle portion further comprising a rotatable member coupled to the handle portion, the rotatable member being configured to adjust a curvature of the elongated shaft;

wherein the control member is positionable over the rotatable member so that the control member and the rotatable member are operable with one hand.

16. The delivery apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control member comprises a grip portion, and the grip portion is positionable over the rotatable member.

17. The delivery apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the control member comprises a base member disposed within the handle portion and coupled to the elongated shaft, and a lever member extending from the base member out of the handle portion, the grip portion being a part of the lever member.

18. The delivery apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the control member is movable in a slot defined in the handle portion, and the control member includes a locking member operable to engage and disengage one or more cogs disposed along the slot when the control member is released and depressed, respectively, relative to the handle portion.

19. The delivery apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the locking member comprises a biasing member configured to bias the control member away from the handle portion.

20. A delivery apparatus for implanting a radially compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve in a native heart valve of the heart, the apparatus comprising:

a handle portion;

an elongated balloon catheter shaft extending from the handle portion, the balloon catheter shaft including a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion, the balloon catheter shaft further comprising a balloon mounted on the distal end portion and configured to mount a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state;

a steerable guide shaft disposed coaxially about the balloon catheter shaft and including a proximal end portion coupled to the handle portion and a distal end portion;

an axial positioning assembly including a lever member coupled to the proximal end portion of the balloon catheter shaft and movable longitudinally with respect to the handle portion such that longitudinal motion of the lever member causes longitudinal motion of the balloon catheter shaft with respect to the guide shaft and the handle portion;

a steering assembly including a rotatable member and a pull wire having a proximal end portion operatively connected to the rotatable member and a distal end portion fixed to the distal end portion of the guide shaft such that rotation of the rotatable member adjusts curvatures of the respective distal end portions of the guide shaft and the balloon catheter shaft;

wherein the lever member is positionable over the rotatable member along the handle portion.