Heart valve assemblies

• US 10,595,991 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2019
• Issued: 03/24/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Fogarty, Thomas J., Drews, Michael J., Holmgren, Neil, Modesitt, D. Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Prebilic, Paul B
• Application Number:
  US16/425,985
• Publication Number:
  US 20190336277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 299 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0608 J-shaped
• 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 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/30545 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/91 Heart

Abstract

A heart valve assembly comprises a first prosthesis configured to expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state at which the first annular prosthesis contacts native tissue of a body lumen. The heart valve assembly also comprises a second prosthesis comprising a valve, and a connection adapter that secures the second prosthesis to the first prosthesis, the connection adapter having a multi-lobed circumference.

Claims

1. A prosthetic valve assembly comprising:

a first annular prosthesis having a frame configured to have a first diameter in a collapsed state for introduction into a body lumen and a second diameter in an expanded state for implantation within an annulus of a heart, the first annular prosthesis having a first alignment element, wherein the first alignment element is a groove that extends in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the first annular prosthesis; and

a second annular prosthesis including a prosthetic valve, the second annular prosthesis having a second alignment element that is configured to align with the first alignment element when the second annular prosthesis is positioned within the first annular prosthesis in the expanded state.

2. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the second alignment element is a rib that protrudes outwardly from the second annular prothesis, the rib being configured to slide within the groove of the first annular prosthesis when the first annular prosthesis and the second annular prosthesis are mated with each other in vivo.

3. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 2, wherein when the second annular prosthesis is positioned within the first annular prosthesis the first and second alignment elements prevent rotation of the first annular prosthesis relative to the second annular prosthesis.

4. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein during positioning of the second annular prosthesis within the first annular prosthesis the first alignment element of the first annular prosthesis aids in angularly aligning the second annular prosthesis with respect to a longitudinal axis of the first annular prosthesis.

5. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame of the first annular prosthesis has a first wall segment angled outwardly from a second wall segment thereof.

6. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 5, wherein the first alignment element is disposed on the second wall segment.

7. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the first annular prosthesis includes a first engagement element and the second annular prosthesis includes a second engagement element, the first engagement element and the second engagement element being configured to engage each other to attach the first and second annular prostheses together in vivo.

8. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second engagement elements provide a snap-fit connection between the first and second annular prostheses.

9. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second engagement elements provide a magnetic connection between the first and second annular prostheses.

10. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 7, wherein the first and second alignment elements are configured to longitudinally align the second annular prosthesis with the first annular prosthesis as the second annular prosthesis is inserted into engagement with the first annular prosthesis in a predetermined angular orientation.

11. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame of the first annular prosthesis is resiliently circumferentially expandable.

12. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame of the first annular prosthesis is mechanically circumferentially expandable.

13. A prosthetic valve assembly comprising:

a first annular prosthesis configured to be implantable into an annulus within a heart, the first annular prosthesis including a frame that is circumferentially expandable from a first diameter in a collapsed state for introduction into a body lumen to a second diameter in an expanded state for implantation within the annulus of a heart, the first annular prosthesis having a first engagement element and a first alignment element, the first alignment member being a groove; and

a second annular prosthesis including a prosthetic valve, the second annular prosthesis having a second engagement element and a second alignment element, the second alignment member being a rib that is configured to slide within the groove,

wherein the first engagement element and the second engagement element are configured to engage each other to attach the first and second annular prostheses together in vivo, and

wherein the groove of the first alignment element slides within the rib of the second alignment element, when the first annular prosthesis and the second annular prosthesis are brought into engagement with each other in vivo, to longitudinally align the second annular prosthesis with the first annular prosthesis as the second annular prosthesis is inserted into engagement with the first annular prosthesis.

14. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 13, wherein when the second annular prosthesis is positioned within the first annular prosthesis the first and second alignment elements engage each other to prevent rotation of the first annular prosthesis relative to the second annular prosthesis.

15. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second engagement elements provide a snap-fit connection between the first and second annular prostheses.

16. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the first and second engagement elements provide a magnetic connection between the first and second annular prostheses.

17. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the frame of the first annular prosthesis is resiliently circumferentially expandable.

18. The prosthetic valve assembly of claim 13, wherein the frame of the first annular prosthesis is mechanically circumferentially expandable.