Implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel

• US 20030060875A1
• Filed: 10/24/2002
• Published: 03/27/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: AngioDynamics, Inc.
• Inventors: Wittens, Cornelis Hendrikus anna
• Granted Patent: US 7,811,315 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.23
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device

Abstract

An implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel, comprising a flexible tube and a hollow, substantially cylindrical support with a casing, expandable in diameter from an initial position to an implantation position. The support extends substantially coaxially over a part of the length of the tube along the inner wall of the tube. The casing of the support cooperates with the inner wall of the tube such that, in the implantation position, a first part of the tube can be formed into a rigid shell, which can be clamped substantially coaxially along the inner wall of a blood vessel. A second, axially contiguous part of the tube can then form a flexible, tubular valve body, which can extend substantially clear in the blood vessel. In an advantageous embodiment, the flexible tube comprises a vein turned inside out and the ends of the tube are connected to form a ring embracing the support.

Claims

1. An implant valve (1) for implantation in a blood vessel, comprising a flexible tube (3) and a hollow, substantially cylindrical support (4) with a casing (5) which is expandable in diameter from an initial position (I) into an implantation position (II), the support (4) extending over a part (l) of the length (L) of the tube (3) substantially coaxially along the wall of the tube (3), the casing (5) of the support (4) cooperating with the wall of the tube (3) and, in the implantation position (II), forming a first part of the tube into a rigid shell (9) which, in use, is clamped substantially coaxially along the inner wall of a blood vessel, while a second, axially contiguous part (k) of the tube forms a flexible, tubular valve body (10), which, in use, extends substantially clear in the blood vessel, characterized in that the casing (5) of the support (4) cooperates with the inner wall (3A) of the tube (3) and in that the support (4) is provided with axially extending support means (17) for supporting, along a part (P) of its circumference, the inner wall (3A) of the second part (k) of the tube (3) of the flexible, tubular valve body (10) formed in the implantation position (II).

2. An implant valve (1) according to claim 1, wherein the support means (17) comprise a finger-shaped extension of the casing (5) of the support (4).

3. An implant valve (1) according to claim 2, wherein the support means (17) comprise two or three finger-shaped extensions interspaced along the circumference of the casing (5).

4. An implant valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube (3) is folded double, so that the inner wall (3A) of the tube (3) extends from the outer surface (5B) of the casing (5) while forming the second tube part (k) to the inner surface (5A) of the casing (5) of the support (4).

5. An implant valve (1) according to claim 4, wherein the ends (20, 21) of the tube (3) are connected to form a ring surrounding the support (4).

6. An implant valve according to claim 5, wherein the connected ends (20, 21) of the tube are situated at the outer surface (5B) of the casing (5).

7. An implant valve (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the tube (3) comprises a part of a vein which has been turned inside out, such that the endothelium of the vein forms the outer surface (3A) of the tube (3).

9. A method for implanting an implant valve according to any one of claims 1-7, wherein the implant valve, with the support in initial position, is placed in a blood vessel and wherein the implant valve, with the aid of a transport device, is transported through the blood vessel to a location of implantation, wherein, subsequently, the diameter of the casing of the support is brought into the implantation position, so that a first part of the tube is clamped as a rigid shell, substantially coaxially along the inner wall of the blood vessel, and a second, axially contiguous part of the tube forms a flexible, tubular valve body extending substantially clear in the blood vessel.

10. A method for manufacturing an implant valve for implantation in a blood vessel, preferably an implant valve according to claim 7, from a tubular part of a vein and a hollow, substantially cylindrical support with a casing expandable in diameter from an initial position to an implantation position, wherein the part of the vein is turned inside out and wherein the ends of the tube are connected to form a ring embracing the support, and wherein the original outer wall, while forming a flexible, tubular valve body, axially contiguous to the support, is connected to the inner surface and the outer surface of the casing.

8. A support (1), such as a stent, comprising a hollow, substantially cylindrical support (4) with a casing (5) expandable in diameter from an initial position (I) to an implantation position (II), the support (4) being provided with axially extending support means (17) comprising a finger-shaped extension of the casing (5) of the support (4).