A system includes a medical device for implanting in a valve of a subject, the implantable medical device having a self-expanding frame; and a holder configured to retain the frame of the implantable medical device in a constricted configuration and to control expansion of the frame. The holder has a controllably constrictable and expandable loop, wherein the loop is disposed about at least a portion of the self-expanding frame such that constriction or expansion of the first loop controls constriction or expansion of the frame.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for patient-specific virtual percutaneous implantation, comprising estimating a patient-specific anatomical model of a patient-specific aorta based on cardiovascular 2D or 3D medical image data and virtually deploying an implant model representing an implant into said patient-specific anatomical model. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for patient-specific virtual percutaneous implantation. In a third aspect, the present invention provides an implant for virtual percutaneous implantation. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a system for virtual percutaneous implantation.

A delivery system for a transcatheter heart valve (THV) to a subject is provided, the delivery system includes a delivery catheter housing the THV therein; an elongated member for receiving the THV thereon and having an accessory extending from the distal portion thereof, the accessory comprising a plurality of components for alignment with commissures of the THV during delivery of the THV, and a rotational member connected to the elongated member to rotate the accessory and THV together to align with a native or bioprosthetic valve commissure or valve leaflet at a desired angle.

A dynamic, adjustable annuloplasty ring sizer can include an adjustable ring replica, which can be adjusted through a range of sizes corresponding to available prosthetic annuloplasty repair ring sizes. Actuation of an adjustment trigger on a handle portion of the ring sizer can displace tension wires that extend through a malleable shaft and through a plurality of articulating segments that form the ring replica. Displacement of the tension wires causes flexion of the joints between adjacent articulating segments, thereby reducing the overall size of the ring replica. Releasing the tension wires can allow an elastic extension wire to act on the ring replica, enlarging the ring replica to its maximum, at-rest size. In this manner, the appropriate size of annuloplasty ring prosthesis can be determined with a single device, without requiring a plurality of static ring sizers that require individual insertion and placement for the conventional trial-and-error sizing methods.

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 leaflet of the valve. A distance is measured between the first radiopaque marker at the tissue site, and the second radiopaque marker at the leaflet. Responsively to the measured distance, a chord-length is determined. An artificial chord, selected based on the chord-length, is implanted in the heart. Other embodiments are also described.

A training kit is provided for practicing aortic valve reconstruction. The aortic valve reconstruction training kit is provided with a blood vessel model and multiple valve leaflet models, and the blood vessel model has a base-capped or base-uncapped cylindrical form having an opening formed on at least the top part thereof. The blood vessel model also has a valve ring part which is formed in the middle of the cylinder and to which the valve leaflet models can be sutured. By using the training kit, it becomes possible to practice a suturing technique that is believed to be the most difficult in aortic valve reconstruction, namely, a technique of accurately suturing a new valve leaflet to a valve ring part, to which an abnormal valve leaflet has been attached, of a cylindrical aorta while viewing the inside of the aorta from above.

In a first aspect, the present invention relates to a method for patient-specific virtual percutaneous implantation, comprising estimating a patient-specific anatomical model of a patient-specific aorta based on cardiovascular 2D or 3D medical image data and virtually deploying an implant model representing an implant into said patient-specific anatomical model. In a second aspect, the present invention provides a method for patient-specific virtual percutaneous implantation. In a third aspect, the present invention provides an implant for virtual percutaneous implantation. In a fourth aspect, the present invention provides a system for virtual percutaneous implantation.

A heart valve sizing ring is disclosed. The sizing ring includes an outer ring and an inner ring configured and arranged to couple to the outer ring. A tubular portion extends from the inner ring and has a plurality of suture holders arranged about an upper end thereof. The outer ring and inner ring having a pair of complementary mating surfaces configured and arranged to grip sutures therebetween when coupled together. When coupled around sutures, the assembled ring may be tightened down against the heart valve to test the fit as if the sizing ring were a similarly sized prosthetic heart valve ring. Commissures of the heart valve may be suspended from the suture holders of the tubular portion. The surgeon can then remove the sizing ring and replace it with a prosthetic ring.

Systems and methods for planning delivery of an object via a catheter, such as transseptal delivery of a prosthetic mitral valve to a patient's heart are disclosed.

Various embodiments of a prosthetic valve sizer and a method that utilizes such valve sizer are disclosed. In one or more embodiments, the prosthetic valve sizer can include a sizer body including an annular base and a post extending from the annular base. The prosthetic valve sizer can also include a resilient tip extending from the post of the sizer body. The resilient tip can include a material different from and more flexible than a material of the sizer body.