REPLACEMENT PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE, SYSTEM AND METHOD OF IMPLANT

• US 20080161910A1
• Filed: 03/14/2008
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jack D. Lemmon, Jose M. Revuelta, Timothy R. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Jack D. Lemmon, Jose M. Revuelta, Timothy R. Ryan
• Inventors: REVUELTA, JOSE M., Ryan, Timothy R., Lemmon, Jack D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,591,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts

Abstract

A method of functionally replacing a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The method includes positioning a replacement prosthetic heart valve within an internal region defined by the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement prosthetic heart valve is then physically docked to the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. With this technique, the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve serves as a platform for securement of the replacement prosthetic heart valve to the patient'"'"'s native tissue.

Claims

1. A prosthetic heart valve for functionally replacing a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising:

a support structure;

leaflets mounted to the support structure;

coupling means associated with the support structure and adapted to physically dock the prosthetic heart valve to a previously implanted heart valve.

2. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the support structure is a stent.

3. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 2, wherein the stent is transitionable from a collapsed state to an expanded state having an enlarged diameter as compared to the collapsed state.

4. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 3, wherein the coupling means is defined, at least in part, by the stent in the expanded state in which at least one end portion of the stent defines an enlarged diameter as compared to a diameter of an intermediate portion of the stent.

5. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling means is attached to the stent.

6. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 5, wherein the coupling means includes an anchor component consisting of a barb, clip, staple, post, eyelet, and hook.

7. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling means is adapted to retract radially in the collapsed state and extend radially in the expanded state.

8. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the leaflets are formed from a material selected from the group consisting of autologous tissue, xenograph material, and synthetic.

9. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the coupling means extends radially outwardly relative to the leaflets.

10. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, further comprising:

a gasket material mounted to an exterior of the support structure.

11. A prosthetic heart valve comprising:

a support structure;

leaflets mounted to the support structure; and

connection means associated with the support structure and adapted to effectuate physical docking of a replacement heart valve to the prosthetic heart valve.

12. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 11, wherein the connection means includes a component selected from the group consisting of a rib, hook, barb, eyelet, ring, clip and staple.

13. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 11, wherein the support structure includes a covering material to which the leaflets are attached, and further wherein the connection means extends from the covering material.

14. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 11, wherein the support structure defines a sewing ring, and further wherein at least a portion of the connection means extends from the sewing ring.

15. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 11, wherein the support structure defines stent posts, and further wherein at least a portion of the connection means extends from the stent posts.

16. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 15, wherein the connection means includes a plurality of protrusions, respective ones of which extend from respective ones of the stent posts.