Prosthetic heart valve packaging and attachment assembly
A system for heart valve replacement includes a collapsible and expandable replacement heart valve and a packaging assembly for storing the replacement heart valve. The packaging assembly includes a funnel extending from a first end to a second end. The funnel has a first interior diameter at the first end and a second interior diameter, the second interior diameter smaller than the first interior diameter. The funnel defines an internal lumen extending between the first and second ends. The funnel defines a plurality of longitudinal slots extending along an interior surface of the funnel between the first and second ends.
1 . A system for heart valve replacement comprising:
a collapsible and expandable replacement heart valve, wherein the replacement heart valve includes a plurality of tines extending radially outward; and
a packaging assembly for storing the replacement heart valve, the packaging assembly comprising:
a funnel extending from a first end to a second end, the funnel having a first interior diameter at the first end and a second interior diameter at the second end, the second interior diameter being smaller than the first interior diameter, the funnel defining an internal lumen extending between the first and second ends, the funnel defining a plurality of longitudinal slots extending along an interior surface of the funnel between the first and second ends,
wherein each of the plurality of longitudinal slots defines a depth such that free ends of the plurality of tines do not scrape an interior surface of the funnel while the replacement heart valve is translated through the funnel, wherein when the replacement heart valve is received within the funnel, each of the plurality of tines aligns with a corresponding one of the plurality of longitudinal slots.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of longitudinal slots are one of: circumferentially spaced around the interior surface of the funnel, or equidistantly spaced around the interior surface of the funnel.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the funnel has a first circumference at the first end and a second circumference at the second end, each slot having a first end positioned a spaced distance from the first circumference, and a second end positioned at the second circumference.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each slot has a width which tapers as the slot extends between the first and second ends.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the funnel has a wall thickness, and the plurality of longitudinal slots extend through the entire wall thickness of the funnel.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the interior surface of the funnel defines a plurality of grooves extending between the first and second ends of the funnel, each groove positioned between an adjacent pair of the plurality of longitudinal slots.
7 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a valve support having a base for holding the replacement heart valve.
8 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a ring sized and shaped to fit within the valve support and around a circumference of the replacement heart valve.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the ring includes a first ring portion and a second ring portion adapted to be detachably coupled to each other to form the ring.
10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the first ring portion includes a first protrusion and a first aperture and the second ring portion includes a second protrusion and a second aperture, wherein the first protrusion is sized and shaped to fit in the second aperture and the second protrusion is sized and shaped to fit in the first aperture.
11 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a retention mechanism including a cap and a plurality of sutures having a first end attached to the cap and a second end configured to be attached to the replacement heart valve.
12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the funnel defines a recess along a circumference of the second end, the recess configured to mate with a protrusion on a delivery device.
13 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the funnel has a wall thickness, and the plurality of longitudinal slots extend through part of the wall thickness of the funnel.