CPC A61F 2/2436 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2418 (2013.01); A61F 2/966 (2013.01); A61F 2002/9665 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0067 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0039 (2013.01)] | 16 Claims |
16. A method of delivering a stented prosthesis to a target site, the method comprising:
providing an expandable stented prosthesis loaded onto a delivery device in a collapsed, loaded state, the stented prosthesis having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the stented prosthesis is a prosthetic heart valve and the target site is a heart valve; the delivery device including:
an inner shaft assembly having a distal portion retaining the stented prosthesis,
a distal bumper engaged with and covering the distal end of the stented prosthesis, the distal bumper comprising a tapered inner surface with a gradually decreasing inner diameter from a proximal end of the distal bumper,
a proximal bumper engaged with and covering the proximal end of the stented prosthesis,
percutaneously delivering the stented prosthesis in the collapsed, loaded state to the target site with the distal bumper and a central portion of the stented prosthesis between the distal bumper and the proximal bumper being unsheathed with a longitudinal spacing between the distal bumper and the proximal bumper as the stented prosthesis is in the collapsed, loaded state and wherein a maximum outer diameter of the distal bumper is less than or equal to a maximum outer diameter of the central portion of the stented prosthesis in the collapsed, loaded state; and
once the loaded stented prosthesis is at the target site, transitioning the stented prosthesis from the collapsed, loaded state to an expanded arrangement.
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