Artificial heart valve attachment apparatus and methods

• US 20060136054A1
• Filed: 11/23/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerry Grudem, Todd Allen Berg, William J. Swanson
• Original Assignee: Jerry Grudem, Todd Allen Berg, William J. Swanson
• Inventors: Berg, Todd Allen, Swanson, William J., Grudem, Jerry
• Granted Patent: US 7,569,072 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442

Abstract

Heart valve attachment apparatus and methods that significantly reduce attachment times are provided. The apparatus and methods utilize a connector band to form an interface between a uni-directional valve and a tissue annulus. The connector band is secured to the tissue annulus by retention fingers.

Claims

1-59. -59. (canceled)

60. A method for deploying and securing a uni-directional valve having a plurality of fingers oriented in a circumferential direction around the circumference of the valve to a tissue annulus comprising:

positioning the valve into the annulus; and

engaging the fingers to the annulus by rotating the valve in the direction the plurality of fingers is oriented.

61. The method of claim 60, wherein positioning the valve into the annulus comprises rotating the valve opposite to the direction the plurality of fingers is oriented.

62. The method of claim 60, wherein engaging the fingers further comprises mechanically crimping the fingers.

63. The method of claim 60, wherein the fingers are barbed.

64. The method of claim 60, wherein the rotation of the valve is performed using a tool.

65. The method of claim 60, wherein the valve is a heart valve and wherein the annulus is a heart passageway.

66. A valve apparatus for deploying in and securing to a tissue annulus comprising:

a uni-directional valve portion for passing fluid in one direction and obstructing fluid in an opposite direction; and

a plurality of fingers oriented in a circumferential direction around the circumference of the valve, wherein the fingers are engaged to the tissue annulus by rotating the valve in the direction the plurality of fingers is oriented.

67. The valve of claim 66, wherein the valve is positioned into the annulus by rotating the valve opposite to the direction the plurality of fingers is oriented.

68. The valve of claim 66, wherein the fingers are engaged to the annulus by mechanically crimping the fingers.

69. The valve of claim 66, wherein the fingers are barbed.

70. The valve of claim 66, wherein the rotation of the valve is performed using a tool.

71. The valve of claim 66, wherein the valve is a heart valve and wherein the annulus is a heart passageway.