Recoil inhibitor for prosthetic valve

Abstract

A valve loading apparatus is provided for loading a crimped prosthetic valve into a lumen of a delivery system. The valve recoil adapter can counteract recoil of a compressed prosthetic valve, and maintain the valve at its desired crimp diameter. An integrated bioprosthesis/delivery system is provided for delivering a bioprosthesis to a target area within a body lumen is provided. The delivery system includes a valve covering member and a compressing member, which compresses the valve covering member to surround, hold, and/or compress the valve during delivery to the target area.

1 . A valve loading apparatus for loading a crimped prosthetic valve into a lumen of a delivery system, the valve loading apparatus comprising:
 a first portion, the first portion being configured to receive a crimped prosthetic valve;   a second portion configured to be coupled to a distal end of the delivery system; and   a transitional portion,   wherein the apparatus has an opening that passes through the first, second, and transitional portions, the opening having a first diameter at the first portion and a second diameter at the second portion, the first diameter being larger than the second diameter, the transitional portion having a transitional diameter that varies from the first diameter to the second diameter, and   wherein when the crimped valve is passed through the opening of the loading apparatus and into the lumen of the delivery system, the crimped valve is radially compressed from a larger diameter to a smaller diameter.   
   
   
       2 . The valve loading apparatus of  claim 1 , the second portion having a third diameter section, the third diameter being larger than the second diameter, wherein the transition from the second diameter to the third diameter forms a lip, the lip being configured to abut the distal end of the delivery system. 
   
   
       3 . The valve loading apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a first clamp portion and a second clamp portion, the first and second clamp portions being separable from one another,
 wherein the first clamp portion forms a part of each of the first, second, and transitional portions, and the second clamp portion forms the remainder of the first, second, and transitional portions.   
   
   
       4 . The valve loading apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a pushing member, the pushing member comprising a handle portion and one or more extending portions, the extending portions having a hollow central area and being sized to extend into the opening of the valve loading apparatus to urge the crimped prosthetic valve through the opening of the valve loading apparatus. 
   
   
       5 . The valve loading apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the extending portions of the pushing member comprise two or more annularly spaced finger members. 
   
   
       6 . A method of loading a crimped prosthetic valve into a lumen of a delivery system, the method comprising:
 crimping a prosthetic valve on a balloon member of a balloon catheter;   providing a loading apparatus, the loading apparatus having a first section and a second section, the first section having a first diameter and the second section having a second diameter, wherein the second diameter is smaller than the first diameter;   introducing the crimped prosthetic valve into the first section, wherein at the time of introduction into the first section, the crimped prosthetic valve has a diameter greater than the second diameter; and   passing the crimped prosthetic valve through the second section and into the lumen of the delivery system, the crimped prosthetic valve exiting the second section with the crimped prosthetic valve having a diameter that is equal to or less than the second diameter.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 coupling the second section of the loading apparatus to a distal end of the delivery system.   
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 passing the balloon member through an introducer sheath prior to prior to crimping the prosthetic valve on the balloon member.   
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the act of passing the crimped prosthetic valve through the second section further comprises:
 providing a pushing member; and   using the pushing member to apply a force to the crimped prosthetic valve to push the crimped prosthetic valve through the second section of the loading apparatus.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for delivering a prosthetic valve through the vasculature of a patient comprising:
 a main catheter, the main catheter comprising a distal section;   a balloon catheter comprising an elongated shaft and a balloon member connected to a distal end portion of the shaft, the balloon member having an external surface configured to receive a crimped prosthetic valve;   a valve covering member extending from the distal section of the main catheter and over at least a portion of the balloon member, the valve covering member being compressible to apply a compressive force to the prosthetic valve when the prosthetic is crimped on the balloon member; and   a compressing member configured to compress at least a portion of the valve covering member.   
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the compressing member comprises a nose piece, the nose piece being disposed distal to the balloon member and being configured to receive at least a portion of a distal end of the valve covering member. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the nose piece is coupled to a distal end of the balloon member. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the distal end of the valve covering member that is received by the nose piece has a smaller inner diameter than a portion of the valve covering member that is not received by the nose piece. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the portion of the distal end of the valve covering member that is received by the nose piece comprises at least one slit or notch. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the compressing member comprises an outer covering member, the outer covering member having an elongated shaft and being movable longitudinally relative to the valve covering member, the outer covering member being configured to have a smaller inner diameter than an outer diameter of the valve covering member, such that when the outer covering member extends over the valve covering member, the valve covering member is compressed to a smaller inner diameter. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the valve covering member is adhered to the distal section of the main catheter. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the valve covering member is integrally formed with the distal section of the main catheter. 
   
   
       18 . A method of loading a crimped prosthetic valve into a lumen of a delivery system, the method comprising:
 providing a main catheter with an elongated shaft;   providing a balloon catheter with an elongated shaft and a balloon member disposed at a distal end of the elongated shaft;   crimping a prosthetic valve on the balloon member;   providing a valve covering member, the valve covering member being configured to extend at least from a distal end of the main catheter to a distal end of the balloon member, the valve covering member having at least one slit or notch at a distal portion of the valve covering member;   covering the crimped prosthetic valve with the valve covering member;   crimping at least a portion of the valve covering member to a smaller profile, the portion of the valve covering member that is crimped covering at least a portion of the crimped prosthetic valve during the act of crimping;   providing an outer covering member, the outer covering member having an elongated shaft; and   moving the outer covering member to extend over the portion of the valve covering member that covers the crimped prosthetic valve, the outer covering member being sized to apply a compressive force to the valve covering member.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein at least a part of the act of moving the outer covering member over the valve covering member occurs while the valve covering member is loaded into a crimping device.