Reinforced Surgical Conduit for Implantation of a Stented Valve Therein

• US 20070239266A1
• Filed: 04/06/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Vascular, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Birdsall, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 7,740,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.260
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

A pulmonary valve replacement system having a vascular conduit and a prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure. The prosthetic valve device is positioned within the vascular conduit. A conduit support includes a substantially circular cross-section. The conduit support is positioned adjacent to and reinforces the vascular conduit. In one embodiment, the pulmonary valve replacement system includes a catheter and an inflatable member operably attached to the catheter. The prosthetic valve device is disposed on the inflatable member. The invention provides a method for replacing a pulmonary valve including providing a vascular conduit positioned at a treatment site. The vascular conduit includes a conduit support positioned adjacent the vascular conduit. A prosthetic valve device is deployed within the vascular conduit via catheter. The prosthetic valve device includes a valve operably connected to a support structure. The vascular conduit is supported with the conduit support.

Claims

1. A vascular valve replacement system, the system comprising:

a vascular conduit having a long axis and a lumen communicating therethrough;

a conduit support operably connected to the vascular conduit to reinforce the vascular conduit along the length of the vascular conduit;

the conduit support comprising a substantially circular cross-section; and

a prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure, the prosthetic valve device positioned within the vascular conduit adjacent to the conduit support.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit support comprises a plurality of nitinol filaments threaded through the vascular conduit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit support comprises a braided structure interwoven with the vascular conduit, and wherein the vascular conduit comprises a woven polyester fabric.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit support comprises a tubular structure having a plurality of interconnected support members, the conduit support disposed within and secured to the lumen of the vascular conduit.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the prosthetic valve device is deployed within the lumen of the vascular conduit with a delivery catheter.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the conduit support provides reinforcement to the vascular conduit in a radial direction.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises an expandable stent for retaining the prosthetic valve device within the vascular conduit.

8. A pulmonary valve replacement system comprising:

a delivery catheter;

an inflatable member operably attached to the catheter;

a vascular conduit having a long axis and a lumen communicating therethrough;

a conduit support operably connected to the vascular conduit to reinforce the vascular conduit along the length of the vascular conduit;

the conduit support comprising a substantially circular cross-section; and

a prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure, the prosthetic valve device disposed on the inflatable member for delivery to the vascular conduit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the conduit support comprises a plurality of nitinol filaments threaded through the vascular conduit.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the conduit support comprises a braided structure interwoven with the vascular conduit, and wherein the vascular conduit comprises a woven polyester fabric.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein the conduit support comprises a tubular structure having a plurality of interconnected support members, the conduit support disposed within and secured to the lumen of the vascular conduit.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein the conduit support provides reinforcement to the vascular conduit in a radial direction.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the support structure comprises an expandable stent for retaining the prosthetic valve device within the vascular conduit.

14. A method for replacing a pulmonary valve, the method comprising:

providing a vascular conduit positioned at a treatment site, the vascular conduit having a long axis and a lumen communicating therethrough and the vascular conduit further including a conduit support positioned within or adjacent to the vascular conduit;

supporting the vascular conduit with the conduit support; and

deploying a prosthetic valve device within the vascular conduit via a delivery catheter, the prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the conduit support comprises nitinol.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the conduit support comprises a braid structure interwoven with the vascular conduit.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the conduit support comprises a tubular structure having a plurality of interconnected support members, the conduit support disposed within and secured to the lumen of the vascular conduit.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein supporting the vascular conduit comprises reinforcing the vascular conduit in a radial direction.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising retaining the prosthetic valve device within the vascular conduit.