Method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve
First Claim
1. A method of implanting a balloon expandable prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a patient, the method comprising:
- introducing a delivery system into a femoral artery of the patient, the delivery system comprising an outer sleeve comprising a selectively steerable distal end portion, the delivery system further comprising a balloon catheter extending through a central lumen in the outer sleeve, wherein a distal end portion of the balloon catheter is positioned distal to a distal end of the steerable distal end portion, and a prosthetic valve is crimped over a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the balloon catheter, wherein the distal end of the steerable distal end portion is a free end and the prosthetic valve is positioned distal to the free end as the delivery system is introduced into the femoral artery;
advancing the prosthetic valve through the femoral artery and an aorta of the patient until the prosthetic valve reaches an aortic arch of the patient, wherein the outer sleeve does not cover the prosthetic valve as the prosthetic valve is advanced through the aorta;
actuating a pull wire for selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable distal end portion so as to advance the prosthetic valve through the aortic arch, the pull wire having a distal end portion fixedly connected to the steerable distal end portion;
positioning the prosthetic valve at a target site within the native aortic valve; and
radially expanding the prosthetic valve by inflating the balloon.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An assembly for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native heart valve is disclosed. The assembly includes a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve formed with an expandable metallic stent and a flexible valvular structure. The assembly also includes a delivery apparatus having a delivery sleeve. The delivery sleeve includes a selectively steerable section and a distal portion for retaining the prosthetic heart valve in a compressed state. A handle is coupled to a proximal end of the delivery sleeve and a pull wire extends from the handle to the steerable section of the delivery sleeve. The handle preferably includes a rotatable portion for actuating the pull wire and thereby selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable section during advancement through the patient'"'"'s vasculature. In preferred embodiments, the steerable section includes a flexible metallic tubular portion formed with a plurality of circumferentially extending openings.
172 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of implanting a balloon expandable prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a patient, the method comprising:
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introducing a delivery system into a femoral artery of the patient, the delivery system comprising an outer sleeve comprising a selectively steerable distal end portion, the delivery system further comprising a balloon catheter extending through a central lumen in the outer sleeve, wherein a distal end portion of the balloon catheter is positioned distal to a distal end of the steerable distal end portion, and a prosthetic valve is crimped over a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the balloon catheter, wherein the distal end of the steerable distal end portion is a free end and the prosthetic valve is positioned distal to the free end as the delivery system is introduced into the femoral artery; advancing the prosthetic valve through the femoral artery and an aorta of the patient until the prosthetic valve reaches an aortic arch of the patient, wherein the outer sleeve does not cover the prosthetic valve as the prosthetic valve is advanced through the aorta; actuating a pull wire for selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable distal end portion so as to advance the prosthetic valve through the aortic arch, the pull wire having a distal end portion fixedly connected to the steerable distal end portion; positioning the prosthetic valve at a target site within the native aortic valve; and radially expanding the prosthetic valve by inflating the balloon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of implanting a balloon expandable prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a patient, the method comprising:
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introducing a delivery system into a femoral artery of the patient, the delivery system comprising a tubular sleeve and a selectively steerable section fixedly attached to a distal end of the tubular sleeve, the delivery system further comprising a balloon catheter extending through a central lumen in the tubular sleeve and the steerable section, wherein a distal end portion of the balloon catheter is positioned distal to a distal end of the steerable section, and a prosthetic valve is crimped over a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the balloon catheter, wherein the distal end of the steerable section is a free end and the prosthetic valve is positioned distal to the free end as the delivery system is introduced into the femoral artery; advancing the prosthetic valve, the balloon catheter, and the steerable section through the femoral artery and an aortic arch of the patient, wherein the tubular sleeve does not cover the prosthetic valve as the prosthetic valve is advanced through the aorta; selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable section during advancement around the aortic arch; positioning the prosthetic valve at a target site within the native aortic valve; and inflating the balloon so as to radially expand the prosthetic valve. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of implanting a balloon expandable prosthetic valve within a native aortic valve in a patient, the method comprising:
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inserting an introducer into a femoral artery of the patient; inserting a prosthetic valve and a distal end portion of a balloon catheter into a loader, wherein the prosthetic valve is crimped over a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the balloon catheter, wherein the balloon catheter extends through a central lumen of an outer sleeve comprising a selectively steerable distal end portion, and wherein the distal end portion of the balloon catheter and the prosthetic valve are positioned distal to a distal end of the steerable distal end portion, the distal end being a free end; inserting the loader through a proximal opening of the introducer; pushing the prosthetic valve, the balloon catheter, and the outer sleeve as a single unit outwardly through a distal opening of the loader, into and through the introducer and into the femoral artery; advancing the prosthetic valve through the femoral artery and an aorta of the patient until the prosthetic valve reaches an aortic arch of the patient, wherein the outer sleeve does not cover the prosthetic valve as the prosthetic valve is being advanced through the aorta; actuating a pull wire for selectively controlling a curvature of the steerable distal end portion so as to advance the prosthetic valve through the aortic arch, the pull wire having a distal end portion fixedly connected to the steerable distal end portion at a location proximal to the prosthetic valve such that the prosthetic valve remains straight when the pull wire is actuated to change the curvature of the steerable distal end portion; aligning the prosthetic valve with respect to the native aortic valve by controlling the curvature of the steerable section; advancing the balloon catheter and the prosthetic valve across the native aortic valve; and inflating the balloon so as to radially expand the prosthetic valve.
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Specification