apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient by means that are less invasive than conventional open - chest , open - heart surgery . the prosthetic valve may be collapsed while in a delivery device . when the valve reaches the desired implant site in the patient , the valve can be released from the delivery device , which allows the valve to re - expand to the configuration in which it can function as a heart valve . for example , the delivery device may be constructed to facilitate delivery of the prosthetic valve into the patient via the apex of the patient &# 39 ; s heart .