Prosthetic heart valve with linking element and methods for implanting same

• US 10,265,165 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2016
• Issued: 04/23/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alan W. Heldman
• Original Assignee: Alan W. Heldman
• Inventors: Heldman, Alan W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gherbi, Suzette J
• Application Number:
  US15/229,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20160354202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 991 Days
• Field of Search: 623 21- 236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/026 Measuring blood flow A61B3/1233, A61B3/1241 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00017 Iron- or Fe-based alloys, e.g. stainless steel
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00023 Titanium or titanium-based alloys, e.g. Ti-Ni alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00029 Cobalt-based alloys, e.g. Co-Cr alloys or Vitallium
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00113 Silver or Ag-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00155 Gold or Au-based alloys
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2310/00161 Carbon; Graphite

Abstract

Disclosed is a prosthetic heart valve incorporating one or more linking elements adapted for anchoring, aligning, stabilizing, fixing, or otherwise enabling the implantation of other prosthetic devices, including other prosthetic heart valves, in or around the heart.

Claims

1. A prosthetic heart valve assembly comprising:

a first heart-implantable device comprising a prosthetic cardiac valve configured to permit blood flow in a first direction and to inhibit blood flow in a second direction opposite the first direction;

a radially collapsible and expandable annular support frame supporting said prosthetic cardiac valve;

one or more linking elements connected to said support frame, each having a terminal end extending distally from said support frame;

wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements comprises a plurality of subcomponents in an articulated arrangement; and

wherein each of said terminal ends is adapted to connect to a second heart-implantable device.

2. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said first heart-implantable device is a valve prosthesis selected from the group consisting of an aortic valve prosthesis, a pulmonic valve prosthesis, a mitral valve prosthesis and a tricuspid valve prosthesis.

3. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said second heart-implantable device is a device selected from the group consisting of an aortic valve prosthesis, a pulmonic valve prosthesis, a mitral valve prosthesis, a tricuspid valve prosthesis, and components thereof.

4. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said heart second heart-implantable device is a device selected from the group consisting of a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardiac assist pump, a blood flow monitor, an electrical activity monitor, a stent, and components thereof.

5. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements is formed at least partially of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, cobalt chromium, plastic polymer, pyrolytic carbon, suture, fiber, filament, cable and combinations thereof.

6. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements comprises a single component.

7. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements is rigid.

8. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements is flexible.

9. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the connection between said support frame and at least one of said one or more linking elements is rigid.

10. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the connection between said support frame and at least one of said one or more linking elements is articulated.

11. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the connection between said support frame and at least one of said one or more linking elements is flexible.

12. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein the connection between said support frame and at least one of said one or more linking elements is magnetic.

13. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said terminal ends is adapted to connect to said second heart-implantable device using an articulated joint.

14. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said terminal ends is adapted to connect to said second heart-implantable device using a magnetic joint.

15. The prosthetic heart valve assembly of claim 1 wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements is adjustable by tightening, loosening, rotating or redirecting.

16. A linking element connecting two heart-implantable devices comprising:

an elongated component having a first terminal end and a second terminal end;

wherein said first terminal end is adapted to connect to a first heart-implantable device;

wherein said second terminal end is adapted to connect to a second heart-implantable device; and

wherein said linking element comprises a plurality of subcomponents in an articulated arrangement.

17. The linking element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first heart-implantable device and said second heart-implantable device are selected from the group consisting of an aortic valve prosthesis, a pulmonic valve prosthesis, a mitral valve prosthesis, a tricuspid valve prosthesis, a pacemaker, a defibrillator, a cardiac assist pump, a blood flow monitor, an electrical activity monitor, a stent, and components thereof.

18. The linking element of claim 16 wherein said linking elements is formed at least partially of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, silver, gold, titanium, cobalt chromium, plastic polymer, pyrolytic carbon, suture, fiber, filament, cable and combinations thereof.

19. The linking element of claim 16 wherein said linking element is rigid.

20. The linking element of claim 16 wherein said linking element is flexible.

21. The linking element of claim 16 wherein said linking element is adjustable by tightening, loosening, rotating or redirecting.

22. The linking element of claim 16 wherein at least one of said first terminal end said second terminal end are adapted to connect to one of said first heart-implantable device or second heart-implantable device using an articulated joint.

23. A method for implanting a secondary heart-implantable device comprising the steps of:

implanting a primary heart-implantable device comprising a prosthetic cardiac valve in the position of an existing heart valve, said prosthetic cardiac valve having one or more linking elements connected thereto, and each of said linking elements having a terminal end extending distally from said prosthetic cardiac valve; and

connecting said secondary heart-implantable device to least one of said terminal ends;

wherein each of said terminal ends is adapted to connect to said secondary heart-implantable device; and

wherein at least one of said one or more linking elements comprises a plurality of subcomponents in an articulated arrangement.