Artificial valve prosthesis with improved flow dynamics
First Claim
1. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
- a valve structure adapted for restricting fluid flow therethrough;
a support structure attached to the valve structure, wherein at least a portion of the the support structure is adapted to expand upon deployment to create an artificial sinus in the bodily passage adjacent to the valve structure; and
wherein the artificial sinus is configured to create retrograde flow vortices sufficient to substantially prevent stagnation of fluid therein.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An expandable venous valve having a support structure that configured to enlarge the area adjacent to the valve structure such that the flow patterns of retrograde flow are modified in a way that facilitates the flushing of the pockets at the base of the valve area to prevent stagnation of bodily fluid, which in the venous system, can lead to thrombus formation. The enlarged pocket areas can be created by forming an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure in an unsupported section of vessel wall between two support frame section or the support frame can comprise an expanded-diameter intermediate or proximal section that forms an artificial sinus adjacent the valve structure. In another group of embodiments, the attachment pathway between opposing leaflets and the support frame and/or vessel wall comprises a proximal portion that places the leaflets in extended contact with one another and a distal portion forms a large angle with respect to the adjacent walls such that a large pocket is created at the base of the leaflets. In one embodiment, the attachment pathway extends distally along a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal attachment struts to create an extended leaflet contact area, then angles circumferentially and distally from the former along distal attachment struts to define the bottom edge of the leaflets.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure adapted for restricting fluid flow therethrough;
a support structure attached to the valve structure, wherein at least a portion of the the support structure is adapted to expand upon deployment to create an artificial sinus in the bodily passage adjacent to the valve structure; and
wherein the artificial sinus is configured to create retrograde flow vortices sufficient to substantially prevent stagnation of fluid therein. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure, including a plurality of leaflets adapted to restrict fluid flow therethrough;
a support structure attached to the valve structure;
wherein each of the plurality of leaflets is oriented closely with the longitudinal axis of the bodily passage throughout the majority of the lengths thereof with the distal portions thereof extending circumferentially and distally to form a seal with at least one of the walls of the bodily passage and the support structure; and
wherein the configuration of the leaflets creates pockets between the leaflets and the walls of the bodily passage of sufficient size and shape to facilitate the creation of retrograde flow patterns capable of reducing stagnation of fluid therein.
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14. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure comprising leaflets adapted to restrict fluid flow therethrough;
a support structure attached to the valve structure;
a covering of material extending over the support structure;
wherein the support structure includes a first section having a first diameter and a second section attached below the first section having a second diameter substantially smaller than the first diameter such that retrograde flow increases in velocity as it passes through the second section; and
wherein the valve structure is located within the second section such that pockets are formed between the valves structure and walls of the bodily passage, the pockets configured to be continually flushed by retrograde flow from above.
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15. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure, including a plurality of leaflets adapted to restrict fluid flow therethrough;
a support structure comprising a series of proximal bends comprising commissural points for the attachment of the plurality of leaflets and adjacent distal bends located therebetween, wherein the proximal bends generally define a first angle and the distal bends generally define a second, larger angle such that the leaflets maintain an orientation that is substantially parallel with the bodily passage as they extend proximally from the proximal bends before curving outward to engage at least one of the support structure and the vessel wall; and
wherein the orientation of the leaflets is configured such that a pocket is created adjacent the proximal surfaces thereof which is of sufficient size and shape such that fluid flowing in the retrograde direction is capable of achieving flow patterns that reduce stagnation of fluid therein.
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16. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure comprising one or more leaflets adapted to restrict fluid flow therethrough, the leaflets includes an inner edge;
a support structure configured to carry the valve structure;
wherein the support structure includes one or more longitudinal attachment struts along which the at least a portion leaflets are attached, the longitudinal attachment struts oriented substantially longitudinally with respect to the device such that the leaflet are coaptable with one another over a substantial portion of their length when the device is implanted within the body passage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for implantation in a vessel comprising:
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a support structure having a first end that includes at least a first and a second commissure, and second end located distal thereto;
a plurality of leaflets, each having an outer edge that includes a first lateral edge extending distally from the first commissure and a second edge portion extending distally from the second commissure, the first and second lateral edges generally converging about the second end such that the plurality of leaflets collectively form a seal with the walls of the vessel and cooperate with one another to restrict fluid flow therethrough; and
wherein the first and second lateral edges are each attached to the support structure along an attachment pathway that includes a first, proximal portion comprising a substantial portion of the length of the prosthesis having primarily a longitudinal orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis, and a second, distal portion angling obliquely from the first portion such that plurality of leaflets each comprise an extensive coaptable portion that defines the side of a large pocket located adjacent to each leaflet, and a basal portion that defines the bottom of the pocket when the prosthesis is implanted within the vessel.
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23. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for implantation in a vessel comprising:
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a support structure having a first end that includes a first and a second commissure, and second end located distal thereto;
a pair of leaflets, each having an outer edge that includes a first lateral edge extending distally from the first commissure and a second edge portion extending distally from the second commissure, the first and second lateral edges generally converging about the second end such that the plurality of leaflets collectively form a seal with the walls of the vessel and cooperate with one another to restrict fluid flow therethrough; and
wherein the first and second lateral edges are each attached about a first strut that extends from the first and second commissure structure along an attachment pathway that includes a first, proximal portion comprising a substantial portion of the length of the prosthesis having primarily a longitudinal orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the prosthesis, and a second, distal portion angling obliquely from the first portion such that plurality of leaflets each comprise an extensive coaptable portion that defines the side of a large pocket located adjacent to each leaflet, and a basal portion that defines the bottom of the pocket when the prosthesis is implanted within the vessel.
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24. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a valve structure, including a plurality of leaflets adapted to restrict fluid flow therethrough, each of the plurality of leaflets comprising a free inner edge and an outer edge that includes a first and second lateral outer edge which interconnect distally to form a bottom edge;
a support structure comprising a series of proximal bends comprising commissural points for the attachment of the plurality of leaflets; and
longitudinal attachment struts extending distally therefrom, the support structure further comprising a pair of distal attachment struts extending distally and circumferentially from the longitudinal attachment struts; and
wherein the lateral outer edges are attached proximally along the longitudinal attachment struts to form a extensive leaflet contact area, and distally long the distal attachment struts which converge laterally and carry the bottom edge of each of the plurality of leaflets such that the prosthesis is adapted for forming a seal between the plurality of leaflets and the walls of the bodily passage and creating a large pocket at the base of each of the plurality of leaflets that is of sufficient size and shape such that fluid flowing in the retrograde direction is capable of achieving flow patterns that reduce stagnation of fluid therein. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a pair of opposing leaflets configured to cooperate with one another to restrict fluid flowing therethrough, each of the opposing leaflets having proximal portion a distal portion, an inner edge traversing the lumen of the bodily passage and an outer edge comprising a first and second lateral outer edge;
wherein the outer edges of the opposing leaflets include an attachment pathway coextending therealong, wherein the attachment pathway comprises an attachment with at least one of a support frame and the inner walls of the bodily passage such that the attachment pathway defines the shape and configuration of the plurality of leaflets when the prosthesis is implanted in the bodily passage, and wherein attachment pathway comprises extends along the first and the second lateral outer edge of each leaflet, each of the first a second lateral outer edges including a proximal attachment pathway portion having a substantially longitudinal orientation with respect to the prosthesis such that a large leaflet contact area is established between the opposing leaflets, and distal attachment pathway portion which converges with that of the other of the first and second lateral outer edge to define a bottom edge of the leaflet such that the bottom portion of the leaflet angles extend laterally from the substantially longitudinally aligned proximal portion in a manner that forms a seal and creates a wide pocket about the junction of the proximal and distal portions that is adapted for creating retrograde flow patterns sufficient to reduce stagnation of fluids therein.
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29. A radially expandable artificial valve prosthesis for deployment in a bodily passage, comprising:
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a first leaflet having a first and second lateral outer edges and a first leaflet surface;
a second leaflet having a first and second lateral outer edges and a second leaflet surface;
an expandable support structure defining means for positioning the first and second leaflet surfaces substantially opposite one another and substantially along a longitudinal axis of the support structure for a majority of the lengths thereof; and
wherein the first and second lateral outer edges of each of the first and second leaflets are attached along the support frame.
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Specification