Cardiac prosthesis for helping improve operation of a heat valve

• US 20030033009A1
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Published: 02/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Shlomo Gabbay
• Original Assignee: Shlomo Gabbay
• Inventors: Gabbay, Shlomo
• Granted Patent: US 7,374,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses

Abstract

An apparatus (10) for helping improve operation of a heart valve includes a generally annular base (12) and a buttress (20) extending generally axially from and inwardly relative to an arc portion of the base (12). When the apparatus (10) is when implanted at an annulus of a heart valve, the buttress (20) thereof provides a surface with which a leaflet of the heart valve may move into and out of engagement for helping control blood flow relative to the apparatus (10) and heart valve.

Claims

1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:

a generally annular base portion; and

a buttress extending generally axially from and inwardly relative to a portion of the base for, when the apparatus is implanted, providing a surface with which a leaflet of the heart valve may move into and out of engagement for controlling blood flow relative to the apparatus.

2. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the generally annular base portion is a generally C-shaped base portion having a curved length between opposed ends of the C-shaped base portion, the buttress extending from an arc portion of the C-shaped base portion intermediate the opposed ends thereof.

3. An apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein the buttress extends a first length in a direction radially inwardly and axially from the base portion and then curves outwardly for a second length thereof.

4. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the annular base portion is a complete ring and an aperture extends through the apparatus between the buttress and an opposed side of the annular base portion.

5. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base portion is formed of a generally rigid material.

6. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the base portion is formed of a substantially flexible material.

7. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including an outer sheath of a substantially flexible material covering the surface of the buttress.

8. An apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein the outer sheath completely covers the buttress and the base portion.

9. An apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein the flexible material is a substantially biocompatible animal tissue material.

10. An apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the biocompatible animal tissue material is animal pericardium.

11. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including an implantation flange circumscribing the base portion.

12. An apparatus as set forth in claim 11, wherein the implantation flange is formed of a substantially flexible material.

13. An apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein the implantation flange is formed of a substantially biocompatible animal tissue material.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein the animal tissue material is animal pericardium.

15. An apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further including two elongated posts extending generally axially from the annular base portion for supporting a sheet of flexible material that forms the surface of the buttress, the sheet of flexible material extending from a circumferential arc of the base portion and connecting to each of the two posts.

16. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein the posts are formed of a generally rigid material.

17. An apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein the sheet of flexible material is a substantially biocompatible animal tissue material.

18. An apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein each of the posts extend from the base portion and terminate in respective distal ends, the apparatus further including an interconnecting support portion connecting the distal ends of the posts.

19. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:

a frame comprising a generally annular base portion and a support portion extending generally axially and inwardly relative to the base portion, the support portion terminating at a distal end spaced from the base portion; and

a sheath of a substantially flexible material extending from an arc of the base portion and to the support portion of the frame near the distal end thereof to form a buttress which, when the apparatus is implanted, provides a surface with which a leaflet of the heart valve may move into and out of engagement.

20. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the generally annular base portion is a generally C-shaped base portion having a curved length between opposed ends of the C-shaped base portion, the buttress extending from an arc portion of the C-shaped base portion intermediate the opposed ends thereof.

21. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the support portion of the frame extends a first length in a direction radially inwardly and axially from the base portion and then curves outwardly for a second length thereof, the sheath of flexible material substantially conforming the shape of the frame.

22. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the annular base portion is a complete ring and an aperture extends through the apparatus between the buttress and an opposed side of the annular base portion.

23. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the sheath of flexible material is a substantially biocompatible animal tissue.

24. An apparatus as set forth in claim 23, wherein the biocompatible animal tissue is animal pericardium.

25. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, further including an implantation flange circumscribing at least a substantial part of the base portion.

26. An apparatus as set forth in claim 19, wherein the support portion of the frame further includes two elongated posts extending generally axially from the annular base portion for supporting the sheath of flexible material extending between the posts to form the surface of the buttress.

27. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein the posts are formed of a generally rigid material.

28. An apparatus as set forth in claim 26, wherein each of the two posts extend from the base portion and terminate in distal ends, the support portion of the frame further including an interconnecting member connecting the distal ends of the posts.

29. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:

support means for attaching at an annulus of the heart valve so as to permit blood flow through the support means; and

buttress means extending from the support means for, when the apparatus is attached at the annulus, providing a surface with which a leaflet of the valve may move into and out of engagement for controlling blood flow relative to the apparatus.