TRANSSEPTAL DELIVERY SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR THERAPEUTIC DEVICES OF THE AORTIC VALVE

摘要

A method for delivering a therapeutic device to a target aortic valve site includes transseptally positioning a cable to run between afemoral vein, through the heart via the right atrium, left atrium, mitral valve, aortic valve and into the aorta and arterial vasculature with the flexible cable having a first end extending outside the body from a venous vessel and a second end external to the patient at the femoral artery. The aortic valve therapeutic device is advanced over the cable from outside the body and introduced into a femoral artery. A steerable sheath is advanced over the cable, into the venous vasculature and into the left ventricle of the heart. The aortic valve therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction from the femoral artery to advance the aortic valve therapeutic device to the target site. The sheath protects surrounding tissues from the cable during movement of the therapeutic device through the vasculature, and is used to steer the therapeutic device from the front during final positioning to coaxially align the aortic valve therapeutic device at the target site while avoiding contact of the therapeutic device with the subvalvular conduction system.