Methods of delivering and implanting resilient prosthetic surgical heart valves
First Claim
1. A method of implanting a surgical prosthetic heart valve at a heart valve annulus, wherein the valve comprises a resilient frame including alternating cusp and commissure portions and having a neutral configuration defining a circular prism leaflet support structure, the valve further including a sewing ring around an inflow end of the resilient frame, the valve further including flexible leaflets supported by the leaflet support structure, the method comprising:
- retaining the surgical prosthetic heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration in which the resilient frame defines a non-circular prism, wherein the commissure portions of the resilient frame are folded inwardly toward a longitudinally collapsed position when the valve is positioned in the collapsed delivery configuration;
making an outer incision leading to a body lumen;
making an inner incision in the body lumen to provide direct access to a heart valve annulus;
inserting the valve in the collapsed delivery configuration through the outer and inner incisions and into the body lumen;
advancing the valve to the heart valve annulus;
securing the sewing ring to the heart valve annulus; and
releasing the valve from the collapsed delivery configuration such that the valve independently recovers to the neutral configuration.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of implanting a surgical prosthetic heart valve at a heart valve annulus, wherein the valve comprises a resilient frame including alternating cusp and commissure portions and having a neutral configuration defining a circular prism leaflet support structure, the valve further including a sewing ring around an inflow end of the resilient frame, the valve further including flexible leaflets supported by the leaflet support structure, the method comprising:
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retaining the surgical prosthetic heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration in which the resilient frame defines a non-circular prism, wherein the commissure portions of the resilient frame are folded inwardly toward a longitudinally collapsed position when the valve is positioned in the collapsed delivery configuration; making an outer incision leading to a body lumen; making an inner incision in the body lumen to provide direct access to a heart valve annulus; inserting the valve in the collapsed delivery configuration through the outer and inner incisions and into the body lumen; advancing the valve to the heart valve annulus; securing the sewing ring to the heart valve annulus; and releasing the valve from the collapsed delivery configuration such that the valve independently recovers to the neutral configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of implanting a surgical prosthetic heart valve at a heart valve annulus, wherein the valve comprises a resilient frame including alternating cusp and commissure portions and having a neutral configuration defining a circular prism leaflet support structure, the valve further including flexible leaflets supported by the leaflet support structure, the method comprising:
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retaining the surgical prosthetic heart valve in a collapsed delivery configuration in which the resilient frame defines a substantially oval prism, wherein the commissure portions of the resilient frame are folded inwardly toward a longitudinally collapsed position when the valve is positioned in the collapsed delivery configuration; making an outer incision leading to a body lumen; making an inner incision in the body lumen to provide direct access to a heart valve annulus; inserting the valve in the collapsed delivery configuration through the outer and inner incisions and into the body lumen; advancing the valve to the heart valve annulus; releasing the valve from the collapsed delivery configuration such that the valve independently recovers to the neutral configuration; and securing the valve to the heart valve annulus. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification