Patent attributes
A method includes percutaneously advancing an implant to a native heart valve of a subject, the implant being housed in a compressed state within a delivery tool. Next, the method includes unhousing a longitudinally-intermediate portion of the implant, the longitudinally-intermediate portion being longitudinally between a longitudinally-proximal portion of the implant and a longitudinally distal portion of the implant. Subsequently, the longitudinally-proximal portion of the implant is unhoused. Subsequently, the longitudinally-distal portion of the implant is unhoused. By unhousing flanges of the implant, the flanges automatically expand. Upon the flanges expanding, a proximal end of each flange extends radially outward from a central longitudinal axis of the implant and longitudinally in a proximal direction. Other applications are also described.
