PROSTHETIC CARDIAC AND VENOUS VALVES

• US 20100057194A1
• Filed: 11/13/2009
• Published: 03/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Timothy R. Ryan
• Original Assignee: Timothy R. Ryan
• Inventors: Ryan, Timothy R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,506,620 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.260
• 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 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled

Abstract

A prosthetic heart or venous valve, the valve including a central tissue structure with multiple tissue lobes extending from a common central area, wherein each of the lobes includes a longitudinal slot. The valve further includes a plurality of leaflets, each extending from the central tissue structure and positioned between two adjacent lobes, wherein each of the leaflets has a free end spaced from the central tissue structure, and also has a compressible and expandable stent frame with a plurality of extending arms, wherein each of the extending arms of the stent frame is positioned at least partially within one of the longitudinal slots of the central tissue structure.

Claims

1. A prosthetic heart or venous valve, comprising:

a central tissue structure comprising multiple tissue lobes extending from a common central area, wherein each of the lobes includes a longitudinal slot;

a plurality of leaflets, each of which extends from the central tissue structure and is positioned between two adjacent lobes, wherein each of the leaflets comprises a free end spaced from the central tissue structure; and

a flexible stent frame comprising a plurality of extending arms, wherein each of the extending arms of the stent frame is positioned at least partially within one of the longitudinal slots of the central tissue structure, wherein each of the plurality of extending arms extends from a common point that is positioned at an inflow end of the valve, and wherein the stent frame comprises a distal portion that extends beyond the central tissue structure at an outflow end of the valve.

2. The valve of claim 1, wherein the distal portion of the stent frame further comprises an anchoring mechanism.

3. The valve of claim 2, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one connector extending from each of the extending arms that is engageable with a thickness of tissue.

4. The valve of claim 2, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a compressible and expandable engagement structure extending from the stent frame.

5. The valve of claim 4, wherein the engagement structure comprises a self-expanding material.

6. The valve of claim 1, wherein the plurality of leaflets are moveable from a first position in which their free ends are spaced at a first distance from the central tissue structure to a second position in which their free ends are spaced at a second distance from the central tissue structure that is greater than the first distance, wherein the first position of the leaflets defines a plurality of channels between adjacent lobes of the central tissue structure and provides an open position of the valve.

7. The valve of claim 6, wherein the second position of the leaflets eliminates the plurality of channels between adjacent lobes of the central tissue structure and provides a closed position of the valve.

8. A prosthetic valve, comprising:

a flexible tube comprising multiple tissue lobes extending from a common central area, an inflow end, and an outflow end, wherein the inflow end of the tube is closed and the outflow end of the tube is open;

a stent having multiple longitudinally extending members located at least partially within the tube and extending to the open outflow end of the tube, wherein portions of the tube that are adjacent to the outflow end of the tube and between the longitudinally extending members of the stent are moveable toward and away from the common central area to provide a plurality of valve leaflets, wherein the valve leaflets are biased toward the common central area when the valve is in an open position during which fluid can flow from the inflow end to the outflow end of the tube; and

at least one spacer positioned between portions of the tube that are adjacent the open outflow end of the tube.

9. The valve of claim 8, wherein the stent comprises a distal portion that extends beyond the outflow end of the tube, and wherein the distal portion of the stent further comprises an anchoring mechanism

10. The valve of claim 9, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises at least one connector extending from each of the extending members that is engageable with a thickness of tissue.

11. The valve of claim 9, wherein the anchoring mechanism comprises a compressible and expandable engagement structure extending from the stent.

12. The valve of claim 8, wherein the at least one spacer extends from the inflow end of the tube and extends generally along a central longitudinal axis of the tube.

13. The valve of claim 8, wherein the at least one spacer comprises a lumen.

14. The valve of claim 13, wherein the lumen is cylindrical.

15. The valve of claim 13, wherein the lumen is conical.

16. The valve of claim 12, wherein the at least one spacer is attached to an interior portion of the stent.

17. The valve of claim 8, wherein the stent comprises three longitudinally extending members and wherein the valve comprises three leaflets defined by the three extending members and the open outflow end of the tube.

18. The valve of claim 17, wherein the stent and leaflets are sized to provide a central aperture that is open to the inside of the tube at the outflow end of the tube when the valve is in its open position and when the valve is in its closed position.

19. The valve of claim 8, wherein the stent comprises two longitudinally extending members and the valve comprises two leaflets.

20. A prosthetic valve, comprising:

a flexible tube having an inflow end and an outflow end, wherein the inflow end of the tube is folded against and attached to itself, and the outflow end of the tube is open;

a stent having multiple longitudinally extending members located at least partially within the tube and extending to the open outflow end of the tube, wherein portions of the tube that are adjacent to the outflow end of the tube and between the longitudinally extending members of the stent are moveable toward and away from a central area of the valve to provide a plurality of valve leaflets, and wherein the stent comprises a distal portion that extends beyond the outflow end of the tube; and

at least one spacer positioned between portions of the tube that are adjacent the open outflow end of the tube.