SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENABLING HEART VALVE REPLACEMENT

• US 20090157174A1
• Filed: 12/15/2006
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Original Assignee: Georgia Tech Research Corporation (University System of Georgia)
• Inventors: Jimenez, Jorge Hernan, Yoganathan, Ajit P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,568,473 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.110
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9528 for retrieval of stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

The present invention describes a cardiac prosthetic system (400) comprising: an anchoring conduit (200) having a harbour (415), the harbour including a first releasably engaging component (515); a temporary valve (305) and a heart valve prosthesis (420) having a second releasably engaging component (445) enabled to be securely coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component (515) of the harbour (415).

Claims

1. A method of preparing a heart valve for replacement comprising the steps of:

delivering an anchoring conduit to a heart valve, wherein the anchoring conduit includes a harbor enabled to releasably connect a heart valve prosthesis;

expanding the anchoring conduit in the heart valve; and

wherein the expansion of the anchoring conduit defines an open cavity.

2. The method of preparing a heart valve for replacement of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

delivering a temporary valve, in a condensed state, to a target site proximate the heart valve; and

deploying the temporary valve at the target site proximate the heart valve; and

wherein the temporary valve operates to temporarily replace the function of the heart valve when the anchoring conduit is expanded.

3. The method of preparing a heart valve for replacement of claim 1, wherein the open cavity has a substantially uniform inner surface.

5. The method of preparing a heart valve for replacement of claim 1, wherein the open cavity of the anchoring conduit provides an inner lumen surface against which a heart valve prosthesis can be deployed.

39. The method of preparing a heart valve for replacement of claim 1, wherein the inner surface of the open cavity includes a biocompatible lumen.

4. (canceled)

6. An anchoring conduit comprising:

an expandable structure having a proximal anchor component and a distal anchor component; and

wherein the expansion of the expandable structure enables the proximal anchor component and the distal anchor component to interface with a tissue component and define an open cavity, the open cavity having a smooth and substantially uniform inner surface.

8. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the anchoring component can disable a heart valve.

9. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the anchoring component can disable a native heart valve by compressing the components of the native heart valve against the native heart valve.

10. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the anchoring component is configured to receive a heart valve prosthesis.

11. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the anchoring component of is enabled to be endovascularly delivered.

12. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, further comprising a harbor in communication with the expandable structure, the harbor including a first releasably engaging component.

13. The anchoring conduit of claim 12, wherein a heart valve prosthesis having a second releasably engaging component is enabled to be securely coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component of the harbor.

14. The anchoring conduit of claim 13, wherein the heart valve prosthesis can be coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component of the harbor within the heart.

44. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the expandable structure is configured to contain a plurality of debris released from the tissue component.

45. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the expandable structure is configured to expand and adapt to the geometry of the sinuses of the valsalva.

46. The anchoring conduit of claim 6, wherein the anchoring conduit can be delivered through the apex of a heart.

47. The anchoring conduit of claim 10, wherein the expandable structure is configured to enable tissue growth onto the heart valve prosthesis.

7. (canceled)

15. A method of improving a valve competency comprising the steps of:

providing an anchoring conduit to an area proximate a heart valve, wherein the anchoring conduit includes a harbor enabled to releasably connect a heart valve prosthesis;

deploying the anchoring conduit, the deployment of the anchoring conduit defines an open cavity; and

deploying a heart valve prosthesis in the open cavity of the anchoring conduit.

16. The method of improving a valve competency of claim 15, wherein the step of deploying the heart valve prosthesis involves expanding the heart valve prosthesis within the open cavity of the anchoring conduit.

17. The method of improving a valve competency of claim 15, wherein the open cavity has a substantially uniform inner surface.

18. The method of improving a valve competency of claim 15, wherein the anchoring conduit provides a first releasably engaging component and the heart valve prosthesis provides a second releasably engaging component enabled to be securely coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component of the anchoring conduit.

19. The method of improving a valve competency of claim 18, wherein the step of deploying the heart valve prosthesis involves securely coupling the second releasably engaging component of the heart valve prosthesis to the first releasably engaging component of the anchoring conduit.

20. The method of improving a valve competency of claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

removing the heart valve prosthesis from the anchoring conduit; and

deploying a second heart valve prosthesis in the open cavity of the anchoring conduit.

21. A method of improving a deficient heart valve comprising the steps of:

delivering an anchoring conduit to a heart valve, the anchoring conduit having a harbor enabled to releasably connect a heart valve prosthesis;

delivering a temporary valve, in a condensed state, to a target site proximate the heart valve;

deploying the temporary valve at the target site proximate the heart valve;

deploying the anchoring conduit in the heart valve, the deployment of the anchoring conduit disabling the heart valve; and

wherein the temporary valve operates to temporarily replace the function of the heart valve when the anchoring conduit is expanded.

22. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

delivering the heart valve prosthesis to an area in the heart proximate the anchoring conduit; and

coupling the heart valve prosthesis to the harbor of the anchoring conduit.

23. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 22, further comprising the step of removing the temporary valve.

24. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 23, further comprising the steps of:

delivering a temporary valve, in a condensed state, to a target site in an artery proximate the heart valve;

expanding the temporary valve at the target site in the artery proximate the heart valve;

decoupling the heart valve prosthesis from the harbor of the anchoring conduit;

delivering a second heart valve prosthesis to an area in the heart proximate the anchoring conduit;

coupling the second heart valve prosthesis to the harbor of the anchoring conduit.

25. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 24, further comprising the step of removing the temporary valve.

26. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 21, wherein the heart valve is an aortic valve.

27. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 21, wherein the heart valve is a pulmonic valve.

40. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 22, wherein the temporary valve and the heart valve prosthesis are endovascularly delivered.

28. A cardiac prosthetic system comprising:

an anchoring conduit having a harbor, the harbor including a first releasably engaging component;

a temporary valve; and

a heart valve prosthesis having a second releasably engaging component enabled to be securely coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component of the harbor.

29. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, further comprising a second heart valve prosthesis, the second heart valve prosthesis having a third releasably engaging component enabled to be coupled and uncoupled from the first releasably engaging component of the harbor.

30. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, wherein the anchoring conduit is enabled to be deployed in an aortic heart valve.

31. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, wherein the anchoring conduit is enabled to be deployed in a pulmonic heart valve.

32. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, wherein the anchoring conduit is enabled to be delivered through a blood vessel.

33. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, wherein the temporary valve is enabled to temporarily perform the function of a heart valve.

42. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 28, wherein the temporary valve and the heart valve prosthesis are endovascularly delivered.

43. The cardiac prosthetic system of claim 42, wherein the heart valve prosthesis can be delivered through a conduit in the temporary valve.

34. A cardiac device comprising:

a heart valve prosthesis having a releasably engaging component; and

wherein the releasably engaging component is enabled to be connected to a harbor located within a heart.

35. The cardiac device of claim 34, wherein the harbor is located in an anchoring conduit.

36. The cardiac device of claim 34, wherein the harbor includes a releasably engaging component capable of being coupled to the releasably engaging component of the heart valve prosthesis.

37. The cardiac device of claim 34, wherein the heart valve prosthesis is enabled to be released from its connection to the harbor located within the heart.

38. A cardiac prosthetic system comprising an anchoring conduit having a harbor, the harbor including a first releasably engaging component.

41. The method of improving a deficient heart valve of claim 41, wherein the heart valve prosthesis can be delivered through a conduit in the temporary valve.