Prosthetic Heart Valve Configured to Receive a Percutaneous Prosthetic Heart Valve Implantation

• US 20100076548A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Konno, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 9,314,335 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.100
• 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 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/958 Inflatable balloons for placing stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0034 D-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible

Abstract

The invention is a prosthetic heart valve, and associated methods therefore, configured to replace a native heart valve, and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded form in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein. The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally non-rigid and/or expanded/expandable form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon.

Claims

1. A prosthetic heart valve comprising:

a generally rigid structure having a circumference and configured to become non-rigid when subjected to a dilation force; and

a valve portion.

2. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the generally rigid structure comprises a member having opposing portions secured together via a connection, wherein the connection is configured to fail when the prosthetic heart valve is subjected to a dilation force.

3. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the generally rigid structure is configured to break into two or more sections when subjected to a dilation force.

5. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the generally rigid structure comprises a plurality of segments passing about the circumference.

6. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 5, further comprising:

a generally elastic member configured to pull at least two adjacent segments toward each other.

7. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 6, wherein the generally elastic member comprises a covering around the generally rigid structure.

8. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 6, wherein the plurality of segments form a lumen passing around the circumference, and the generally elastic member passes through the lumen and around the circumference.

9. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 5, wherein adjacent segments are secured together at a seam configured to fail when the prosthetic heart valve is subject to a dilation force.

10. A prosthetic heart valve comprising:

a generally rigid structure having a circumference and configured to become non-rigid and expand when subjected to a dilation force; and

a valve portion;

wherein the prosthetic heart valve comprises a valve orifice having a valve orifice area, and the prosthetic heart valve is configured for the valve orifice area to be enlarged when the prosthetic heart valve is subjected to a dilation force.

11. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 10, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is configured for the valve orifice area to be enlarged by more than 10% when the prosthetic heart valve is subjected to a dilation force.

12. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 10, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is configured for the valve orifice area to be enlarged by more than 20% when the prosthetic heart valve is subjected to a dilation force.

13. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 10, wherein the valve orifice is generally circular prior to dilation.

14. A method of repairing a patient'"'"'s heart function, comprising:

providing a first prosthetic heart valve having a generally rigid configuration, wherein the first prosthetic heart valve is configured to assume a generally non-rigid configuration when subjected to a dilation force; and

implanting the first prosthetic heart valve in a heart valve annulus.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

providing a second prosthetic heart valve, wherein the second prosthetic heart valve is radially expandable; and

deploying a second prosthetic heart valve within the first prosthetic heart valve.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein deploying the second prosthetic heart valve within the first prosthetic heart valve further comprises:

dilating the first prosthetic heart valve to cause the first prosthetic heart valve to assume a generally non-rigid configuration.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first prosthetic heart valve comprises a plurality of adjacent segments secured at seams, and dilating the first prosthetic heart valve comprises separating adjacent segments at the seams.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein dilating the first prosthetic heart valve comprises:

advancing a balloon catheter within the first prosthetic heart valve; and

inflating the balloon catheter to a pressure of 4 atmospheres or less.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein dilating the first prosthetic heart valve comprises:

inflating the balloon catheter to a pressure of 1 atmosphere or less.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein dilating the first prosthetic heart valve comprises:

inflating the balloon catheter to a pressure of 1 atmosphere or less.