Blood flow controlling apparatus
First Claim
1. A prosthesis for improving blood flow through a native heart valve within a heart comprising:
- an anchoring framework configured to engage tissue associated with the heart and thereby anchor the prosthesis; and
a valve member coupled to the anchoring framework and extending from the anchoring framework so as to be interposed between leaflets of the native heart valve when the anchoring framework is engaged with the tissue;
wherein the valve member has an expanded configuration for contacting at least one leaflet of the native heart valve during a first direction of blood flow and the valve member has a contracted configuration for releasing contact with at least one leaflet of the native heart valve during a second direction of blood flow.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A blood flow controlling apparatus, which is configured to be implanted into a blood circulatory system of a patient, comprises an anchoring means, which is arranged to fix the position of the apparatus in the blood circulatory system, and a valve means being connected to the anchoring means. The valve means is configured to be arranged within the blood circulatory system and is configured to be extendable in a direction transverse to blood flow in order to make contact with native tissue when inserted in the blood circulatory system. The valve means is further configured to release said contact as a result of being exposed to blood flow in a permitted direction.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A prosthesis for improving blood flow through a native heart valve within a heart comprising:
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an anchoring framework configured to engage tissue associated with the heart and thereby anchor the prosthesis; and
a valve member coupled to the anchoring framework and extending from the anchoring framework so as to be interposed between leaflets of the native heart valve when the anchoring framework is engaged with the tissue;
wherein the valve member has an expanded configuration for contacting at least one leaflet of the native heart valve during a first direction of blood flow and the valve member has a contracted configuration for releasing contact with at least one leaflet of the native heart valve during a second direction of blood flow. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An apparatus for restoring function to a mitral valve in a human heart, comprising:
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a flow control member; and
an anchor having a first end and a second end, the first end of the anchor being connected to the flow control member, the second end of the anchor having a tissue engagement structure, the anchor having a length such that the flow control member is positioned at least partially within the mitral valve when the tissue engagement structure is engaged with the tissue;
wherein the flow control member is movable between an expanded state to contact at least one leaflet of the mitral valve and thereby substantially prevent blood flow past the mitral valve and a reduced state to thereby allow blood flow past the mitral valve. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for restoring function to a heart valve in a human heart, comprising:
introducing a prosthesis into an interior of the heart;
securing one end of the prosthesis to tissue within the heart;
positioning an opposite end of the prosthesis between opposing leaflets of the heart valve;
expanding the prosthesis so as to place the prosthesis into contact with at least one leaflet of the heart valve and thereby substantially prevent blood flow through the heart valve in a first direction; and
contracting the prosthesis so as to substantially allow blood flow through the heart valve in a second direction. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
Specification