Controlled separation heart valve frame
First Claim
1. A support frame for a flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
- a plurality of cusps each sized and shaped to support a cusp of a flexible leaflet of the heart valve; and
a plurality of commissures, one each between each adjacent pair of cusps, the commissures each having a point of weakness designed to fracture upon repeated relative movement of the cusps after implantation such that the cusps move substantially independently of each other.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A highly flexible prosthetic heart valve having an internal leaflet support frame that is designed to separate into individual cusps after implantation. The leaflet support frame (or “stent” or “wireform”) has a plurality of alternating cusps on an inflow end and commissures on an outflow end. The cusps of flexible leaflets attach around the support frame cusps. The support frame provides structural rigidity during implantation, but each support frame commissure has a point of weakness that is designed to fracture upon repeated relative movement of the cusps after implantation such that the support frame cusps separate. Because of the flexible nature of the heart valve, after the cusps separate the implanted heart valve does not significantly impede the natural motions of the annulus or adjacent vessel walls. The support frame may be a homogeneous material such as Nitinol with the point of weakness being a narrowing at the commissure tips. The commissure tips can include enlarged regions adjacent the point of weakness that help prevent the separated ends from poking through surrounding fabric.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A support frame for a flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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a plurality of cusps each sized and shaped to support a cusp of a flexible leaflet of the heart valve; and
a plurality of commissures, one each between each adjacent pair of cusps, the commissures each having a point of weakness designed to fracture upon repeated relative movement of the cusps after implantation such that the cusps move substantially independently of each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A support frame for a flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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a plurality of cusps sized and shaped to support cusps of flexible leaflets of the heart valve; and
a plurality of commissures, one each between each adjacent pair of cusps, the commissures and cusps being formed integrally of a homogeneous material and the commissures each having a point of weakness designed to fracture upon repeated relative movement of the cusps after implantation whereby the cusps can move substantially independently of each other. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of replacement of a natural heart valve with a flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
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providing a flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve having an internal support frame with alternating cusps and commissures, the cusps of the flexible leaflets being attached along the support frame cusps, the commissures of the internal support frame being designed to fracture upon repeated relative movement of the cusps after implantation such that the support frame cusps move substantially independently of each other; and
implanting the flexible leaflet prosthetic heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification