Markers for Prosthetic Heart Valves

• US 20090192591A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/30/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tabor, Charles, Ryan, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 9,089,422 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.26
• 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 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9505 having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/9511 the retaining means being filaments or wires
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of an original prosthetic heart valve that includes at least one visually detectable marker. The replacement heart valve includes a stent structure having a generally tubular body portion and at least one visually detectable marker on a portion of the stent structure, and at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure. At least one visually detectable marker of the stent structure is alignable with at least one visually detectable marker of the original prosthetic heart valve.

Claims

1. A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a an original prosthetic heart valve that comprises at least one visually detectable marker, the replacement heart valve comprising:

a stent structure comprising;

a generally tubular body portion; and

at least one visually detectable marker on a portion of the stent structure;

and

at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure;

wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the stent structure is positionable relative to at least one visually detectable marker of the original prosthetic heart valve.

2. The replacement heart valve of claim 1, wherein at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve is directionally distinguishable.

3. The replacement heart valve of claim 2, wherein at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve is c-shaped.

4. The replacement heart valve of claim 2, wherein at least one visually detectable marker of the original heart valve is directionally distinguishable.

5. The replacement heart valve of claim 4, wherein the at least one marker of the replacement heart valve comprises indicia that is the same as the at least one marker of the original heart valve.

6. The replacement heart valve of claim 1, wherein at least one of the visually detectable markers is visible with fluoroscopic visualization techniques.

7. The replacement heart valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve comprises at least one skirt that extends around at least a portion of the generally tubular body portion.

8. The replacement heart valve of claim 7, wherein the at least one skirt comprises a deformable sealing skirt, wherein deformation of the sealing skirt is visually detectable.

9. The replacement heart valve of claim 1, wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement valve comprises multiple markers.

10. A replacement prosthetic heart valve in combination with an original heart valve, wherein the original valve comprises at least one visually detectable marker and wherein the replacement heart valve comprises at least one visually detectable marker that is alignable with the at least one marker of the original heart valve.

11. The combination of claim 10, wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the original heart valve comprises at least one of an annular marker, a one sinus marker, and a commissure marker.

12. The combination of claim 11, wherein the original heart valve comprises at least one annular marker, at least one sinus marker, and at least one commissure marker.

13. The combination of claim 11, wherein the original heart valve comprises at least one annular marker, and wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve comprises at least one skirt marker for alignment with the at least one annular marker of the original heart valve.

14. The combination of claim 11, wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve comprises at least one commissure marker for alignment with at least one commissure marker of the original heart valve.

15. The combination of claim 10, wherein the at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement valve comprises at least one deformable sealing skirt, wherein deformation of the sealing skirt is visually detectable.

16. A replacement heart valve comprising:

a stent structure comprising;

a generally tubular body portion; and

at least one visually detectable deformable skirt surrounding at least a portion of the tubular body portion; and

at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure;

wherein the at least one deformable skirt is deformable in response to pressure of the skirt against a native valve annulus.

17. A method of implanting a replacement prosthetic heart valve within an original prosthetic heart valve comprising at least one visually detectable marker, the method comprising:

positioning a replacement prosthetic heart valve in an internal area defined by a generally tubular structure of the original prosthetic heart valve, wherein the replacement heart valve comprises;

a stent structure comprising;

a generally tubular body portion; and

at least one visually detectable marker on a portion of the stent structure;

and

at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure;

adjusting the location of the replacement heart valve by aligning at least one visually detectable marker of the replacement heart valve with at least one visually detectable marker of the original heart valve.