A system includes an annulus-marking device that comprises a two or more pull wires coupled to an expandable braided mesh. Pulling the pull wires can transition the braided mesh into a shape in which the mesh assumes (1) a sloped upper portion configured for positioning within an atrium of a heart of the subject, (2) a bulging ledge portion configured for positioning above the heart valve, and (3) a narrow portion for positioning within the heart valve. The system can also include an implant configured for placement along a native heart valve annulus of a subject. The implant can include a body portion comprising flexible material, the body portion having a longitudinal axis that runs along a length of the body portion. Other embodiments are also described.

A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve may include crimping the valve onto a delivery device from a larger initial diameter to a smaller crimped diameter. Before crimping, the prosthetic leaflets of the valve may be in an uncompressed condition, and after crimping, the prosthetic leaflets may be in a compressed condition. The prosthetic heart valve may be advanced through a patient's vasculature while crimped and then deployed into a valve annulus of the patient. After crimping the prosthetic heart valve form the initial diameter to the compressed diameter, the prosthetic heart valve may have a crimp magnitude of between 110% and 135%. The crimp magnitude may be calculated as a ratio of (i) a size of the prosthetic leaflets in the uncompressed condition to (ii) a total amount of available size that the prosthetic leaflets can occupy when the prosthetic leaflets are in the compressed condition.

A method is described, for use with a native valve of a heart of a subject, the valve being disposed between an atrium and a ventricle of the heart. A first radiopaque marker and a second radiopaque marker are percutaneously advanced to the heart. The first radiopaque marker is placed against a tissue site in the ventricle. The second radiopaque marker is placed against a component of the valve. A distance is fluoroscopically measured between the first radiopaque marker at the tissue site, and the second radiopaque marker at the component. At least one of the radiopaque markers is then withdrawn from the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

A delivery assembly constituted of: a prosthetic valve comprising a plurality of intersecting struts, and a delivery apparatus comprising: a handle; a delivery shaft extending distally from the handle; and a flex sensing assembly, comprising: at least one flex sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of struts; and a control unit in communication with the at least one flex sensor, wherein the prosthetic valve is movable between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration, and wherein, responsive to an output of the at least one flex sensor, the control unit is configured to generate a signal indicative of a diameter of the prosthetic valve.

A delivery assembly constituted of: a prosthetic valve comprising a plurality of intersecting struts, and a delivery apparatus comprising: a handle; a delivery shaft extending distally from the handle; and a flex sensing assembly, comprising: at least one flex sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of struts; and a control unit in communication with the at least one flex sensor, wherein the prosthetic valve is movable between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration, and wherein, responsive to an output of the at least one flex sensor, the control unit is configured to generate a signal indicative of a diameter of the prosthetic valve.