Methods of conformal expansion of prosthetic heart valves
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of expanding a prosthetic heart valve within an aortic annulus of the human body, the method comprising:
- providing an expansion device having a main axis and an outer mounting surface, the expansion device comprising an expansion member and a plurality of rigid shape-forming members forming a part of the outer mounting surface;
mounting the prosthetic heart valve on the outer mounting surface of the expansion device; and
expanding the expansion member to an expanded state to radially outwardly displace the shape-forming members and expand the prosthetic heart valve to an expanded shape having a non-circular cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the main axis of the expansion device, whereinthe expansion member comprises a handle portion and a plunger portion, and the shape-forming members comprise a plurality of flexible finger portions connected to the handle portion but separated from one another via one or more slits, wherein the handle portion is configured with a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the plunger portion is configured to be moveable longitudinally through the bore between a first position and a second position to cam the finger portions radially outward.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for expanding a device in a conduit or orifice of a human body includes a balloon member that is movable from a first configuration to a second configuration. External surfaces of the balloon member can collectively have a non-cylindrical cross-section relative to a main axis of the balloon member, such that the external surfaces of the balloon member generally conform to the anatomical shape of the conduit or orifice when the balloon member is in the second configuration.
377 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of expanding a prosthetic heart valve within an aortic annulus of the human body, the method comprising:
-
providing an expansion device having a main axis and an outer mounting surface, the expansion device comprising an expansion member and a plurality of rigid shape-forming members forming a part of the outer mounting surface; mounting the prosthetic heart valve on the outer mounting surface of the expansion device; and expanding the expansion member to an expanded state to radially outwardly displace the shape-forming members and expand the prosthetic heart valve to an expanded shape having a non-circular cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the main axis of the expansion device, wherein the expansion member comprises a handle portion and a plunger portion, and the shape-forming members comprise a plurality of flexible finger portions connected to the handle portion but separated from one another via one or more slits, wherein the handle portion is configured with a bore extending longitudinally therethrough and the plunger portion is configured to be moveable longitudinally through the bore between a first position and a second position to cam the finger portions radially outward. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. A method of expanding a prosthetic heart valve within an aortic annulus of the human body, the method comprising:
-
providing an expansion device having a main axis and an outer mounting surface, the expansion device comprising a balloon member and a balloon-restricting member surrounding at least a portion of the balloon member and forming a portion of the outer mounting surface, the balloon-restricting member having a plurality of openings through which portions of the balloon member bulge when the balloon is in an expanded state; mounting the prosthetic heart valve on the outer mounting surface of the expansion device; and inflating the balloon member from a deflated state to the expanded state, wherein the plurality of openings are configured so that the balloon member has an outer profile that is non-circular in cross section perpendicular to the main axis of the balloon member and the expanded shape of the heart valve has a non-circular cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the main axis of the expansion device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method of expanding a prosthetic heart valve within an aortic annulus of the human body, the method comprising:
-
providing an expansion device having a main axis and an outer mounting surface, the expansion device comprising an expansion member and a plurality of rigid shape-forming members forming a part of the outer mounting surface; mounting the prosthetic heart valve on the outer mounting surface of the expansion device; and expanding the expansion member to an expanded state to radially outwardly displace the shape-forming members and expand the prosthetic heart valve to an expanded shape having a non-circular cross-sectional profile perpendicular to the main axis of the expansion device, wherein the expansion member comprises a main shaft and a wedge member fixedly connected to a distal end thereof, and an inner shaft that extends through the main shaft and is connected at its distal end to a cap member, wherein the shape-forming members are in cooperating engagement between the wedge member and cap member such that relative longitudinal movement of the wedge member and cap member cams the shape-forming members radially outwards or radially inward, depending on the direction of relative longitudinal movement. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification