Heart valve with integrated stent and sewing ring
First Claim
1. A heart valve having an inflow end and an outflow end, comprising:
- an annular stent defining an undulating outflow edge that alternates between curvilinear cusps and upstanding commissures;
a suture-permeable sewing ring attached to a periphery of the stent by a single piece of fabric that encompasses the stent and an annular sewing ring insert formed from a suture-permeable insert material, the fabric covered insert defining the sewing ring, wherein a seam is provided in the fabric defining a line of attachment between the sewing ring and the stent, and wherein the sewing ring pivots about the seam between a first position in which the sewing ring extends toward the outflow end of the valve and a second position in which the sewing ring extends toward the inflow end of the valve, wherein the insert includes alternating radially thick and thin regions facilitating pivoting of the sewing ring between the first and second positions; and
a plurality of flexible leaflets supported by the stent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sewing ring for prosthetic heart valves that is connected and configured to pivot outward. A biocompatible fabric covering surrounds at least a portion of the sewing ring, and the ring may be exclusively connected to a stent with the fabric. The sewing ring may be generally planar and of uniform thickness, or may be of varying thickness. The fabric may be used to encompass both the stent and the sewing ring, and may be a single piece. A seam may be provided in the fabric as a discrete pivoting line. The sewing ring may be convertible between bi-stable positions. The ring may extend outward in a frusto-conical shape so as to enable inversion between a position facing the inflow end of the valve and a position facing the outflow end of the valve. The sewing ring may have a compliant insert having a celled construction defined by outer walls and inner ribs. A method of implantation, and a method of assembly of the heart valve is also provided.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A heart valve having an inflow end and an outflow end, comprising:
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an annular stent defining an undulating outflow edge that alternates between curvilinear cusps and upstanding commissures; a suture-permeable sewing ring attached to a periphery of the stent by a single piece of fabric that encompasses the stent and an annular sewing ring insert formed from a suture-permeable insert material, the fabric covered insert defining the sewing ring, wherein a seam is provided in the fabric defining a line of attachment between the sewing ring and the stent, and wherein the sewing ring pivots about the seam between a first position in which the sewing ring extends toward the outflow end of the valve and a second position in which the sewing ring extends toward the inflow end of the valve, wherein the insert includes alternating radially thick and thin regions facilitating pivoting of the sewing ring between the first and second positions; and a plurality of flexible leaflets supported by the stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 24, 25)
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11. A heart valve, comprising:
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an annular stent having a periphery; a sewing ring comprising an annular suture-permeable insert formed from a suture-permeable insert material and sized at least as large as the stent periphery, and an annular stiffening member co-extensive with the insert formed of a material that is stiffer than the insert material; and a tubular fabric at least partly covering the stent, the insert and the stiffening member; wherein the stent and insert are connected together exclusively by a portion of the fabric that permits relative outward pivoting of the sewing ring with respect to the stent. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification