Prosthetic heart valves, scaffolding structures, and systems and methods for implantation of same

• US 20050203615A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 09/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AorTx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: AorTx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Ginn, Richard, Heneveld, Scott, Forster, David C., Walsh, Brandon
• Granted Patent: US 8,128,692 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts

Abstract

Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Claims

1. A method for implanting a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

providing a prosthetic heart valve in a contracted state, said prosthetic heart valve having a plurality of segments, and said contracted state including at least one of said segments of the prosthetic heart valve being inverted,

introducing the prosthetic heart valve to a treatment site, and

expanding the cross-sectional profile of the prosthetic heart valve.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein all of said plurality of segments are formed into a generally tubular shape when the prosthetic heart valve is in its contracted state.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said prosthetic heart valve further comprises at least one foldable junction member connecting two adjacent segments, and wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is inverted when the prosthetic heart valve is in its contracted state, whereby at least one foldable junction member forms an elongated vertex.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each pair of adjacent segments forms a lobe when the prosthetic heart valve is in its contracted state.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of installing the prosthetic heart valve in a delivery device having a valve restraining member.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said installing step includes causing relative rotation between the valve restraining member and the prosthetic heart valve to cause said prosthetic heart valve to assume the contracted state.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said expanding step includes releasing the prosthetic heart valve from a delivery device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said expanding step includes expanding an expandable member located within at least a portion of the prosthetic heart valve.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

repositioning said prosthetic heart valve.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said repositioning step comprises:

at least partially contracting the prosthetic heart valve,

moving the contracted prosthetic heart valve to another location, and

expanding the prosthetic heart valve.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said treatment site is in or around a patient'"'"'s heart.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said treatment site is in or around a patient'"'"'s aortic valve root.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said treatment site is in or around a patient'"'"'s ascending aorta.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein said treatment site is in or around a patient'"'"'s descending aorta.

15. A method for implanting a support member adapted to provide a scaffolding force to the interior of a body lumen, comprising:

providing a support member in a contracted state, said support member having a plurality of segments, and said contracted state including at least one of said segments of the support member being inverted,

introducing the support member to a treatment site, and

expanding the cross-sectional profile of the support member.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein all of said plurality of segments are formed into a generally tubular shape when the support member is in its contracted state.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said support member further comprises at least one foldable junction member connecting two adjacent segments, and wherein at least one of said plurality of segments is inverted when the support member is in its contracted state, whereby at least one foldable junction member forms an elongated vertex.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein each pair of adjacent segments forms a lobe when the support member is in its contracted state.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of installing the support member in a delivery device having a restraining member.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said installing step includes causing relative rotation between the restraining member and the support member to cause said support member to assume the contracted state.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein said expanding step includes releasing the support member from a delivery device.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein said expanding step includes expanding an expandable member located within at least a portion of the support member.

23. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

repositioning said support member.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said repositioning step comprises:

at least partially contracting the support member,

moving the contracted support member to another location, and

expanding the support member.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein said treatment site is in or around a patient'"'"'s abdominal aorta.