Aortic implant method
First Claim
1. A method of using a device comprising:
- identifying a subject as suffering from an aortic valve stenosis; and
in response thereto, reducing pressure loss downstream of an aortic valve of the subject, by;
inserting, into an aorta of the subject, a device that, when in a deployed state, defines an upstream end, a downstream end, and an inner surface that defines a conduit through the device that extends from the upstream end of the device to the downstream end of the device, at least a portion of the conduit diverging in a direction from an upstream end of the diverging portion to a downstream end of the diverging portion, such that a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the downstream end of the diverging portion is greater than a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the upstream end of the diverging portion; and
deploying the device within a longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta that is downstream of the aortic valve, such that the device maintains its deployed state, and such that the outer circumference of a region at the downstream end of the device apposes an inner wall of the ascending aorta, the region at the downstream end of the conduit being configured to impede backflow of blood, outside of the conduit, toward the aortic valve,the conduit reducing pressure loss of blood flowing through the conduit, relative to a loss of pressure of blood flowing through the longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta in the absence of the device, by reducing an area of flow separation of the blood flow.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are described for regulating blood flow in an ascending aorta of a subject including inserting a device (20) into the ascending aorta. When in a deployed state, the device defines an inner surface (24) that defines a conduit (26) through the device, at least a portion (25) of the inner surface diverging, such that a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the downstream end (34) of the diverging portion is greater than a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the upstream end (30) of the diverging portion. The device is deployed within a longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta, such that blood flow through the portion of the ascending aorta, via any flow path other than through the conduit, is less than 20 percent of total blood flow through the portion of the ascending aorta. Other applications are also described.
39 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of using a device comprising:
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identifying a subject as suffering from an aortic valve stenosis; and in response thereto, reducing pressure loss downstream of an aortic valve of the subject, by; inserting, into an aorta of the subject, a device that, when in a deployed state, defines an upstream end, a downstream end, and an inner surface that defines a conduit through the device that extends from the upstream end of the device to the downstream end of the device, at least a portion of the conduit diverging in a direction from an upstream end of the diverging portion to a downstream end of the diverging portion, such that a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the downstream end of the diverging portion is greater than a cross-sectional area of the conduit at the upstream end of the diverging portion; and deploying the device within a longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta that is downstream of the aortic valve, such that the device maintains its deployed state, and such that the outer circumference of a region at the downstream end of the device apposes an inner wall of the ascending aorta, the region at the downstream end of the conduit being configured to impede backflow of blood, outside of the conduit, toward the aortic valve, the conduit reducing pressure loss of blood flowing through the conduit, relative to a loss of pressure of blood flowing through the longitudinal portion of the ascending aorta in the absence of the device, by reducing an area of flow separation of the blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification