RETAINING MECHANISMS FOR PROSTHETIC VALVES

A system (5600), comprising: one or more support stent delivery catheters (5608, 5618); one or more prosthetic valve delivery catheters (5660, 5665) at least partially positioned in the interior of the one or more support stent delivery catheters (5608, 5618); an expandable support stent (10) releasably coupled to the one or more support stent delivery catheters (5608, 5618); and an expandable prosthetic valve (5670) releasably coupled to the one or more prosthetic valve delivery catheters (5660, 5665);the expandable support stent (10) having an annular body that defines one or more peaks and one or more valleys along its circumference, the expandable support stent (10) being radially compressible into a compressed state and self-expandable into an uncompressed state, the expandable support stent (10) being sized such that it can be positioned within the aorta of a patient at a location adjacent to the aortic valve and thereby circumscribe the aortic valve, the system (5600) further comprising one or more covers (8720) that at least partially cover the annular body of the expandable support stent (10), the one or more covers (8720) comprising a biocompatible material.