A gimbal handle assembly including: an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal that are concentrically linked and have pivot axes that are orthogonal relative to each other, a spool coupled to and rotatable around the outer gimbal, and a plurality of draw lines attached to the spool in a circumferential configuration, wherein rotation of the spool and/or rotation of the spool and the outer and inner gimbals increases or reduces tension in the draw lines. Also disclosed are a transcatheter valve delivery assembly that includes the gimbal handle assembly, a multi-lumen catheter, a sleeve attached to a distal end of the multi-lumen catheter, and a transcatheter heart valve including an expandable valve frame. Methods of delivering the transcatheter valve to a subject are described, wherein pitch and yaw orientations of the transcatheter valve can be precisely controlled with enhanced degrees of freedom.

A gimbal handle assembly including: an inner gimbal and an outer gimbal that are concentrically linked and have pivot axes that are orthogonal relative to each other, a spool coupled to and rotatable around the outer gimbal, and a plurality of draw lines attached to the spool in a circumferential configuration, wherein rotation of the spool and/or rotation of the spool and the outer and inner gimbals increases or reduces tension in the draw lines. Also disclosed are a transcatheter valve delivery assembly that includes the gimbal handle assembly, a multi-lumen catheter, a sleeve attached to a distal end of the multi-lumen catheter, and a transcatheter heart valve including an expandable valve frame. Methods of delivering the transcatheter valve to a subject are described, wherein pitch and yaw orientations of the transcatheter valve can be precisely controlled with enhanced degrees of freedom.

A stent delivery system and a method for mounting a stent (1) are disclosed. The stent delivery system includes a handle, an outer tube (52), a restraining member and delayed-release member (4) and is structurally simple and easy to use. During the release of a stent (1) from the restraining member, a proximal end of the stent (1) is always secured to the delayed-release member (4), avoiding the stent (1) from moving backward under the action of forces from the blood and thus resulting in improved positional accuracy of the release of the stent (1). Additionally, during the release of the stent (1) from the restraining member, a distal end of the stent (1) can be secured to an inner tube (51) by means of a fixed coil (32), and the proximal end of the stent (1) can remain fixed on the delayed-release member (4). This can avoid the stent (1) from moving forward or backward during the release of a middle section of the stent (1), allowing the stent (1) to be released under true accurate positional control.

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crimping prosthetic implants onto a delivery apparatus are disclosed. In some examples, a support body for a prosthetic heart valve can comprise a first portion comprising an alignment device configured to couple with a crimping device, and a second portion comprising a support surface that tapers from a wider end disposed adjacent the first portion to a narrower end, where the support surface is configured to receive the prosthetic heart valve thereon and hold one or more leaflets of the prosthetic heart valve in an open position. The support body can further comprise a central channel extending through the first portion and the second portion, the central channel configured to receive a delivery apparatus for the prosthetic heart valve therethrough.

A stent assembly system and a stent assembly method are provided. The stent assembly system includes a stent and an assembly instrument; the assembly instrument is configured to assemble and deliver the stent, and includes a sheath core tube, an outer sheath tube, and an assembly part; the outer sheath tube slidably surrounds the sheath core tube in an axial direction; an accommodating cavity for accommodating the stent is formed between the inner wall of the outer sheath tube and the outer wall of the sheath core tube; the assembly part has a fixed end and a free end opposite to the fixed end, and the fixed end is connected to the sheath core tube; and when the stent is crimped radially on the sheath core tube, the free end is hooked to the stent to limit the stent.

An alignment tool for loading a stent includes a plurality of arms each having a shaft with an engagement region moveable between a first, angled configuration relative to the shaft, and a second, straight configuration, with each engagement region having an inner surface shaped to mate with a stent holder. The alignment tool further includes a lock ring having a lumen configured to receive the plurality of arms, with the lock ring configured to slide over the arms between a first retracted position in which the engagement region of each arm is exposed and allowed to bias into the angled configuration, and a second locked position in which the lock ring extends over at least a portion of the engagement regions and compresses the engagement regions into the straight configuration. The alignment tool may also include a spring configured to bias the lock ring in the locked position.

An alignment tool for loading a stent includes a plurality of arms each having a shaft with an engagement region moveable between a first, angled configuration relative to the shaft, and a second, straight configuration, with each engagement region having an inner surface shaped to mate with a stent holder. The alignment tool further includes a lock ring having a lumen configured to receive the plurality of arms, with the lock ring configured to slide over the arms between a first retracted position in which the engagement region of each arm is exposed and allowed to bias into the angled configuration, and a second locked position in which the lock ring extends over at least a portion of the engagement regions and compresses the engagement regions into the straight configuration. The alignment tool may also include a spring configured to bias the lock ring in the locked position.

An apparatus for compressing a replacement heart valve implant may include a tubular member having a wall having an outer surface and an inner surface defining a lumen of the tubular member, wherein the inner surface includes a tapered portion having a radially inward taper in a distal direction, and a plurality of flexible arms projecting radially inward from the tapered portion. The plurality of flexible arms may project radially inward from the inner surface at least 50% of a distance from the inner surface to a central longitudinal axis of the tubular member in an unbiased configuration. The plurality of flexible arms may be configured to push a plurality of leaflets of the replacement heart valve implant radially inward as the replacement heart valve implant passes through the tubular member.

A delivery system for prosthetic heart valves are provided. The delivery system includes a flexible shaft, a distal sheath capsule configured to contain the prosthetic heart valve, an inner steerable catheter including an inner distal flex component, and an outer steerable catheter including an outer distal flex component. The inner distal flex component includes a first cut pattern and a second cut pattern distal to the first cut pattern. The outer distal flex component includes a third cut pattern. The inner steerable catheter is rotatable at least 90 degrees relative to the outer steerable catheter when the third cut pattern of the outer distal flex component is disposed over at least a portion of the first cut pattern of the inner distal flex component and each of the inner steerable catheter and the outer steerable catheter is in the flexed configuration.

A device for occluding a vasculature of a patient including a micrograft having an absorbent polymeric structure with a lumen of transporting blood. The micrograft has a series of peaks and valleys formed by crimping. The occluding device is sufficiently small and flexible to be tracked on a guidewire and/or pushed through a microcatheter to a site within the vasculature of the patient. Delivery systems for delivering the micrografts are also disclosed.