Abstract: Methods and systems for rotationally aligning a commissure of a prosthetic heart valve with a commissure of a native valve are disclosed. In some examples, a method can include advancing a distal end portion of an assembly toward a native heart valve, the assembly comprising a delivery apparatus and a prosthetic heart valve, and including one or more radiopaque markers, where one radiopaque marker is suspended within a cell of a frame of the prosthetic heart valve and aligned with a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve. The method further includes receiving a fluoroscopic image in a selected imaging view of the prosthetic heart valve on the delivery apparatus, determining, based on the fluoroscopic image and the one or more radiopaque markers, whether the prosthetic heart valve is in a desired rotational orientation, and rotating the assembly until the prosthetic heart valve is in the desired rotational orientation.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies for attaching leaflets to a frame of a prosthetic heart valve using a connecting skirt are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include an annular frame comprising a plurality of struts and a valvular structure mounted within the frame and comprising a plurality of leaflets. A cusp edge portion of each leaflet can be connected to the frame by a connecting skirt, where each connecting skirt comprises a central portion and opposing side base portions on opposite sides of the central portion, and each connecting skirt can further comprise side extension portions that extend away from the cusp edge portion of the leaflet and across a portion of cells of the frame that are disposed between cusp edge portions of adjacent leaflets, and covers at least one entire cell of the portion of cells.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, and at least one commissure comprising an attachment member comprising a central portion and a flap extending outward from the central portion, the flap folded over a radially outward facing side of the central portion, and the attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the frame. The commissure further comprises commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to a radially inward facing side of the central portion, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the flap of the attachment member, between the flap and the radially outward facing side of the central portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for crimping prosthetic implants onto a delivery apparatus are disclosed. In some examples, a system for crimping a prosthetic valve to a delivery apparatus includes a support body having a central channel and a support surface that extends around the central channel, the support surface configured to receive the prosthetic heart valve thereon and the central channel configured for the delivery apparatus to extend therethrough. The system further includes a crimping device including a channel configured to receive the prosthetic heart valve and a first opening to the channel on a first side of the crimping device, the first opening configured to receive the support body therethrough.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies for attaching leaflets to a frame of a prosthetic heart valve using a connecting skirt are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include an annular frame comprising a plurality of struts and a valvular structure mounted within the frame and comprising a plurality of leaflets. A cusp edge portion of each leaflet can be connected to the frame by a connecting skirt, where each connecting skirt comprises a central portion and opposing side base portions on opposite sides of the central portion that are connected to each of and disposed between the frame and the cusp edge portion of the leaflet and each connecting skirt can further comprise side extension portions that extend outward from the cusp edge portion of the leaflet and across struts of the frame that are disposed between cusp edge portions of two adjacent leaflets.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve includes a frame including a plurality of struts forming a plurality of cells of the frame arranged between an inflow end and an outflow end of the frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, and at least one commissure comprising an attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the plurality of cells of the frame and commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to the attachment member. The valve further includes a radiopaque marker arranged on the attachment member of the commissure within the selected cell.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, and at least one commissure comprising an attachment member comprising a central portion and a flap extending outward from the central portion, the flap folded over a radially outward facing side of the central portion, and the attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the frame. The commissure further comprises commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to a radially inward facing side of the central portion, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the flap of the attachment member, between the flap and the radially outward facing side of the central portion.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems, and methods for holding prosthetic implants. The systems in certain embodiments may be for use in holding prosthetic implants prior to implantation within a patient’s body and prior to coupling to a delivery apparatus used to implant the prosthetic implant within the patient’s body. Certain embodiments disclosed herein may relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for prosthetic implant preparation prior to implantation.

Abstract: Methods and assemblies for attaching leaflets to a frame of a prosthetic heart valve using a connecting skirt are disclosed. As one example, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame, a valvular structure mounted within the frame and comprising a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet comprising tabs on opposite sides of the leaflet and a cusp edge portion, and a plurality of connecting skirts. Each connecting skirt comprises side base portions and a central portion connected to each of the cusp edge portion of a corresponding leaflet and struts of the frame, each connecting skirt further comprising side extension portions that extend away from the cusp edge portion along a length of the frame, where each side extension portion of each connecting skirt extends across struts of the frame, between cusp edge portions of adjacent leaflets and connects to an adjacent side extension portion of an adjacent connecting skirt.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one embodiment, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame including a plurality of struts forming a plurality of cells of the frame arranged between an inflow end and an outflow end of the frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, at least one commissure comprising an attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the plurality of cells of the frame and attached to struts of the frame forming the selected cell, and commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to the attachment member, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the attachment member of the commissure. The marker is configured to indicate a location of the commissure of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: Methods and systems for attaching a radiopaque marker to a prosthetic heart valve to indicate a location of a commissure of the prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. As one embodiment, a prosthetic heart valve can include a frame including a plurality of struts forming a plurality of cells of the frame arranged between an inflow end and an outflow end of the frame, a plurality of leaflets arranged within the frame, at least one commissure comprising an attachment member arranged across a selected cell of the plurality of cells of the frame and attached to struts of the frame forming the selected cell, and commissure tabs of two adjacent leaflets coupled to the attachment member, and a radiopaque marker arranged on the attachment member of the commissure. The marker is configured to indicate a location of the commissure of the prosthetic heart valve.

Abstract: 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.