Low invasive implantable cardiac prosthesis and method for helping improve operation of a heart valve
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
- a generally arcuate base portion; and
a buttress extending from the base portion generally axially and inwardly relative to the base portion, a surface of the buttress being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, the base portion and the buttress being configured to provide a cross-sectional dimension that is variable between a reduced cross-sectional dimension to facilitate implantation thereof and an expanded cross-sectional dimension that helps maintain a desired position of the apparatus when implanted at the heart valve.
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Abstract
An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve includes a generally arcuate base and a buttress extending generally from at least a portion of the base. The apparatus can be deformable to facilitate its implantation. When the apparatus is when implanted at an annulus of a heart valve, the buttress thereof cooperates with one or more leaflets of the heart valve to help control blood flow relative to the apparatus and heart valve.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a generally arcuate base portion; and
a buttress extending from the base portion generally axially and inwardly relative to the base portion, a surface of the buttress being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, the base portion and the buttress being configured to provide a cross-sectional dimension that is variable between a reduced cross-sectional dimension to facilitate implantation thereof and an expanded cross-sectional dimension that helps maintain a desired position of the apparatus when implanted at the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 22, 23, 24)
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20. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a frame comprising a generally arcuate base portion and a support portion extending from the base portion generally axially and inwardly, the support portion terminating at a distal end spaced from the base portion, the frame being formed of a material that enables a cross-sectional dimension of the apparatus to be variable between a reduced cross-sectional dimension, which facilitates implantation of the apparatus, and an expanded cross-sectional dimension that helps maintain the apparatus at a desired position when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve; and
a web of a substantially flexible material extending from an arc of the base portion and supported by the support portion of the frame to define a buttress dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve, whereby, when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, at least one leaflet of the heart valve is moveable relative to a surface of the web so as to provide for substantially unidirectional blood flow relative to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 25, 26)
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27. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a defective heart valve having at least one viable leaflet, comprising:
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means for supporting an annulus of the heart valve so as to permit bi-directional blood flow through the support means, the support means being deformable to a reduced cross-sectional condition and expandable from the reduced cross-sectional condition to an expanded cross-sectional condition; and
means for substantially coapting with the at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is attached at the annulus of the heart valve, such that the at least one leaflet is moveable into and out of engagement with the means for substantially coapting to provide for substantially unidirectional blood flow relative to the apparatus, the means for substantially coapting extending from the means for supporting. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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29. A method for helping improve operation of a patient'"'"'s heart valve, comprising:
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positioning an apparatus within a barrel so as to have a reduced cross-sectional condition, the apparatus comprising a base portion and a support extending from at least a portion of the base;
urging the apparatus from the barrel at the patient'"'"'s heart valve;
expanding the apparatus to an expanded condition at the patient'"'"'s heart valve, such that at least one leaflet of the patient'"'"'s heart valve is moveable into and out of engagement with the apparatus to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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Specification