Heart valve delivery system
First Claim
1. A delivery system, comprising:
- a tubular sleeve;
a selectively steerable section coupled to a distal end of the sleeve;
an elongate balloon catheter extending through the sleeve and the steerable section; and
a prosthetic valve disposed over an expandable balloon along a distal end portion of the elongate balloon catheter;
wherein the sleeve, steerable section, balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are configured for advancement as an single unit through a patient'"'"'s vasculature and wherein the prosthetic valve is adjacent a distal end portion of the steerable section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the handle to a distal end of the delivery sleeve assembly. Actuation of the handle pulls on the pull wire, which causes openings in a slotted tube of the delivery sleeve assembly to close, thus causing the delivery sleeve assembly to bend. A stretchable cover is placed over the slotted tube for biasing the steerable catheter toward a straight position. Once advanced to the native valve site, the prosthetic valve is deployed by inflating the balloon.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A delivery system, comprising:
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a tubular sleeve;
a selectively steerable section coupled to a distal end of the sleeve;
an elongate balloon catheter extending through the sleeve and the steerable section; and
a prosthetic valve disposed over an expandable balloon along a distal end portion of the elongate balloon catheter;
wherein the sleeve, steerable section, balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are configured for advancement as an single unit through a patient'"'"'s vasculature and wherein the prosthetic valve is adjacent a distal end portion of the steerable section. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A delivery system, comprising:
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a delivery sleeve assembly having a main lumen;
a slotted tube forming a steerable section of the delivery sleeve assembly, the steerable section having a first configuration wherein the steerable section is substantially straight and a second configuration wherein the steerable section is curved, wherein the steerable section is enveloped by a covering, wherein the covering is stretchable such that it biases the steerable section from the second configuration to the first configuration; and
an elongate balloon catheter extending through the main lumen of the delivery sleeve assembly, wherein a prosthetic valve is mounted to a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising:
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mounting a prosthetic valve over a balloon on a balloon catheter;
placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire running along the length of the delivery sleeve assembly and attached to a moving member of a handle;
tracking the prosthetic valve to the native valve site by pushing the valve through iliac and femoral arteries of the patient, over an aortic arch, and to the native valve site, whereby the moving member pulls the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a first direction, causing the steerable section to bend, and whereby the moving member releases the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a second direction, allowing the rigidity of the delivery sleeve assembly to straighten the steerable section; and
inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising:
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disposing an expandable prosthetic valve over a balloon along a distal end portion of a balloon catheter;
placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire;
advancing the prosthetic valve and delivery sleeve assembly toward the native valve site substantially as a single unit while selectively adjusting the curvature of the steerable section to facilitate advancement;
advancing the prosthetic valve out of the delivery sleeve assembly and into the native valve site; and
inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.
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Specification