Prosthetic Heart Valves, Scaffolding Structures, and Systems and Methods for Implantation of Same

• US 20100256724A1
• Filed: 04/07/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AorTx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: AorTx, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Forster, David C.
• Application Number:
  US12/755,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20100256724A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.110
• 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 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0033 made by longitudinally pushing a protrusion into a complementary-shaped recess, e.g. held by friction fit
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0091 connected by a hinged linkage mechanism, e.g. of the single-bar or multi-bar linkage type
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0063 Nested prosthetic parts

Abstract

Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

providing a prosthetic heart valve comprising (i) a tubular support structure comprising a plurality of segments oriented along the periphery of the support structure, each segment having a side edge coupled with a side edge of an adjacent segment, and (ii) a plurality of valve leaflets coupled with the plurality of segments;

contracting the tubular support structure from an expanded state to a contracted state, wherein the contracting occurs without causing any substantial fold in any valve leaflet, and wherein the contracting occurs without sliding the side edge of any segment in relation to the side edge of the coupled adjacent segment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the contracted state, exactly two valve leaflets are located against each other and between two adjacent segments.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the surface of the support member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each valve leaflet is coupled with only one segment.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the surface of the only one segment to which the leaflet is coupled.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet is curled.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the curl of the support structure.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet is flat against the support structure.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein contracting comprises folding adjacent segments towards each other.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein contracting comprises curling adjacent segments.

11. A method for delivering a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

providing a prosthetic heart valve comprising (i) a tubular support structure comprising a plurality of segments oriented along the periphery of the support structure, each segment having a side edge coupled with a side edge of an adjacent segment, and (ii) a plurality of valve leaflets coupled with the plurality of segments;

contracting the tubular support structure from an expanded state to a contracted state, wherein the contracting occurs without causing any fold in any valve leaflet, and wherein the contracting occurs without sliding the side edge of any segment in relation to the side edge of the coupled adjacent segment.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the contracted state, exactly two valve leaflets are located against each other and between two adjacent segments.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the surface of the support member.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each valve leaflet is coupled with only one segment.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the surface of the only one segment to which the leaflet is coupled.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet is curled.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet follows the curl of the support structure.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein, in the contracted state, each valve leaflet is flat against the support structure.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein contracting comprises folding adjacent segments towards each other.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein contracting comprises curling adjacent segments.