REINFORCEMENT DEVICE FOR A BIOLOGICAL VALVE AND REINFORCED BIOLOGICAL VALVE
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A reinforcement device comprising:
- a plurality of commissural supports, each commissural support being configured to stabilize a valve wall of a biological valve at a commissure of the biological valve, the biological valve having an inflow region and an outflow region;
a plurality of intercommissural supports, each intercommissural support being configured to stabilize the valve wall at a location circumferentially between two of the commissures; and
a base disposed at the inflow region of the biological valve, the base being attached to the plurality of commissural supports and the plurality of intercommissural supports, the base further being configured to receive the biological valve mounted thereon.
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Abstract
A reinforcement device for a biological valve includes an arrangement of supports configured to establish a double-trigone geometry in the valve and coupled to a base upon which the valve may be mounted. A plurality of commissural supports establish the geometry of a commissural trigone, and a plurality of intercommissural supports establish the geometry of an intercommissural trigone. A method for reinforcing a biological valve includes using commissural supports in conjunction with intercommissural supports, both sets of supports coupled to a base upon which the valve is mounted.
28 Citations
53 Claims
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1. A reinforcement device comprising:
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a plurality of commissural supports, each commissural support being configured to stabilize a valve wall of a biological valve at a commissure of the biological valve, the biological valve having an inflow region and an outflow region; a plurality of intercommissural supports, each intercommissural support being configured to stabilize the valve wall at a location circumferentially between two of the commissures; and a base disposed at the inflow region of the biological valve, the base being attached to the plurality of commissural supports and the plurality of intercommissural supports, the base further being configured to receive the biological valve mounted thereon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A reinforced prosthetic valve comprising:
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a biological valve having leaflets attached to an external wall at commissures, the biological valve having an inflow region and an outflow region, the biological valve being mounted on a base; a plurality of commissural supports extending from the base, each commissural support configured to stabilize the external wall at one of the commissures; and a plurality of intercommissural supports extending from the base, each intercommissural support being configured to stabilize the external wall at a location circumferentially between two of the commissures. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method of reinforcing a biological valve, the valve comprising leaflets attached to an external wall at commissures, the method comprising:
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securing a commissural support to the external wall approximately at each commissure; coupling the commissural supports to a base; securing an intercommissural support to the external wall between each pair of commissural supports; and coupling the intercommissural supports to a base. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method of making a reinforced biological valve, the method comprising:
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providing a biological valve comprising biological tissue, the biological tissue having been fixed in a physically unconstrained state, the biological valve having a valve wall and a plurality of commissures; securing a commissural support to the valve wall near each commissure; and securing an intercommissural support to the valve wall between each pair of commissural supports. - View Dependent Claims (47, 48, 49)
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50. A method of making a reinforced biological valve, the method comprising:
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fixing biological tissue in a physically unconstrained state; forming a biological valve from the biological tissue, the biological valve having a valve wall, a plurality of commissures, an inflow region, and an outflow region; attaching a commissural support to the valve wall near each commissure; and attaching an intercommissural support to the valve wall between each pair of commissural supports. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52)
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53. A method of replacing a malfunctioning valve in a subject, the method comprising:
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removing the malfunctioning valve from said subject; providing a reinforced biological valve comprising a plurality of commissural supports and a plurality of intercommissural supports, each commissural support being configured to stabilize a commissure of the biological valve, each intercommissural support being configured stabilize a wall of the biological valve between each pair of commissural supports, the commissural supports and intercommissural supports being disposed at discrete locations about an outflow region of the biological valve; and implanting said reinforced biological valve in said subject in place of said malfunctioning valve.
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Specification