Cardiovascular valve assembly

• US 20060136052A1
• Filed: 12/08/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valvexchange, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Valvexchange, Inc.
• Inventors: Vesely, Ivan
• Granted Patent: US 7,758,640 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.180
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

A cardiovascular valve assembly comprising a base member that is affixed to a patient using conventional sutures or staples, and a replaceable valve member including a valve frame that supports a plurality of valve leaflets. The valve member mates with the base member, and can be detached from the base member for convenient replacement.

Claims

1. A cardiovascular valve assembly comprising:

a base member; and

a valve member detachably mountable to the base member, said valve member including;

at least one mounting assembly engageable with the base member, and

a wireform for supporting leaflets, said wireform connected with each of said at least one mounting assemblies.

2. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wireform is comprised of a plurality of arcuate wireform sections, wherein adjacent wireform sections are joined to a common mounting assembly.

3. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wireform is made of a wire formed of a medical grade metal.

4. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 3, wherein said wire has an elasticity such that returns to its original shape after being deformed.

5. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wireform is a generally flat ribbon formed of a polymer material.

6. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wireform includes at least one kink formed therein.

7. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said wireform includes hinge means.

8. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 7, wherein said hinge means includes a notch formed in said wireform.

9. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 7, wherein said wireform includes a first portion and a second portion, said hinge means including a flexible connecting pad that joins the first portion to the second portion.

10. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein each mounting assembly includes a mounting element engageable with said base member.

11. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said mounting element includes a prismatic-shaped spike.

12. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said mounting element includes a bar.

13. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said mounting element includes a clip.

14. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 10, wherein said base member includes at least one mating recess for respectively receiving said mounting element of each said mounting assembly.

15. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 14, wherein said at least one mating recess is slot.

16. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said mounting assembly includes a cap.

17. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein said mounting assembly includes a retaining pin engageable with said cap.

18. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 16, wherein said cap includes a bulbous portion.

19. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said base member includes a plurality of arcuate sections and at least one mounting section, each said mounting section including a mating recess for receiving a mounting element of said mounting assembly.

20. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said cardiovascular valve assembly further comprises a sewing cuff attached to said base members.

21. A cardiovascular valve assembly according to claim 1, wherein said leaflets are attached to the wireform such that an edge of said leaflet extends at least 1 mm beyond said wireform.