Connectors for two piece heart valves and methods for implanting such heart valves

• US 20060195186A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arbor Surgical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Arbor Surgical Technologies, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Knab, Dwight J. Jr., Drews, Michael J., Gurskis, Donnell W., Lane, Ernest
• Application Number:
  US11/069,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20060195186A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.38
• 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 2/2418 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 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0097 Visible markings, e.g. indicia

Abstract

A heart valve assembly includes an annular prosthesis including an annular member and a sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member, and a valve member including a frame and a plurality of leaflets carried by struts. The annular prosthesis includes a plurality of pockets extending upwardly from the annular prosthesis for receiving a portion of the frame for securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis. Each pocket may include a flexible rim extending upwardly the sewing cuff and a cover at least partially defining a recess. The rim may be deflectable radially outwardly to accommodate a portion of the frame being received in the recess, and may be resiliently biased to return inwardly when released to cover the portion of the frame with the respective cover. The valve member may be further secured to the annular prosthesis by an interference fit between the rim and the frame.

Claims

1. A heart valve assembly for implantation within a tissue annulus, comprising:

an annular prosthesis comprising an annular member defining a circumference, a sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member, and a rim extending about the circumference; and

a valve member comprising a lower edge sized to be engaged with the rim to secure the valve member to the annular prosthesis.

2. The heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the rim comprises a ridge extending upwardly from a base of the annular prosthesis about the circumference, thereby defining a space for receiving the lower edge of the valve member therein.

3. The heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the rim comprises a plurality of tabs extending upwardly from a base of the annular prosthesis, thereby defining a space for receiving the lower edge of the valve member therein.

4. The heart valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the tabs comprise covers for receiving a portion of a frame of the valve member therein for further securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis.

5. The heart valve assembly of claim 3, wherein the valve member comprises a multiple lobular shape comprising a plurality of lobes separated by cusps, the plurality of tabs comprising a plurality of pockets extending from the sewing cuff at locations corresponding to the lobes of the valve member for receiving the lobes within the pockets.

6. The heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the rim comprises a ramped upper edge for guiding the lower edge of the valve member into engagement with the rim.

7. The heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the rim is deflectable radially outwardly when the lower edge of the valve member is guided into engagement with the rim, the rim being biased to return radially inwardly for creating an interference fit between the rim and the valve member.

8. The heart valve assembly of claim 1, wherein the valve member comprises a flexible skirt extending radially from the valve member for enhancing a seal between the valve member and the annular prosthesis when the valve member is secured to the annular prosthesis.

9. The heart valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the annular prosthesis is sufficiently flexible to conform at least partially to the tissue annulus, the flexible skirt being deformable to accommodate irregularities between the valve member and the annular prosthesis to enhance a seal between the valve member and the annular prosthesis.

10. The heart valve assembly of claim 8, wherein the flexible skirt extends laterally from the valve member such that the flexible skirt contacts the sewing cuff before the lower edge of the valve member is engaged within the rim.

11. A heart valve assembly for implantation within a tissue annulus, comprising:

an annular prosthesis for implantation within the tissue annulus, at least a portion of the annular prosthesis being sufficiently flexible to conform to a shape of the tissue annulus;

a valve member securable to the annular prosthesis, the valve member comprising a flexible skirt extending from the valve member for enhancing a seal between the valve member and the annular prosthesis when the valve member is secured to the annular prosthesis; and

one or more connectors for securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis.

12. The heart valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible skirt deforms to accommodate irregularities between the valve member and the annular prosthesis resulting from the annular prosthesis conforming at least partially to the tissue annulus.

13. The heart valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible skirt comprises at least one of foam and fabric.

14. The heart valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the flexible skirt extends laterally from the valve member such that the flexible skirt contacts the base member before the valve member is secured to the base member.

15. The heart valve assembly of claim 11, wherein the one or more connectors comprise at least one of a clip, a pocket, and a magnet.

16. A heart valve assembly, comprising:

an annular prosthesis comprising an annular member and a sewing cuff extending radially from the annular member;

a valve member comprising a frame; and

a plurality of pockets extending upwardly from the annular prosthesis for receiving a portion of the frame for securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis.

17. The heart valve assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprise a flexible rim extending upwardly from one of the sewing cuff and the annular member, and a cover at least partially defining a recess, each rim being deflectable radially outwardly to accommodate a portion of the frame being received in the recess, each rim being resiliently biased to return inwardly when released to cover the portion of the frame with the respective cover.

18. The heart valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the sewing cuff comprises a flexible core at least partially covered by fabric, the plurality of pockets extending from the flexible core.

19. The heart valve assembly of claim 16, wherein the valve member comprises a multiple lobular shape such that the frame comprises lobes separated by cusps, and wherein the plurality of pockets are spaced apart around a circumference of the annular prosthesis such that each of the lobes are at least partially received within respective pockets for securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis.

20. The heart valve assembly of claim 16, wherein each of the plurality of pockets comprises a rim for engaging a lower edge of the frame for further securing the valve member to the annular prosthesis.