Two-Piece Prosthetic Valves with Snap-In Connection and Methods for Use

• US 20110190877A1
• Filed: 03/08/2011
• Published: 08/04/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lane, Ernest, Lee, Shouyan, Huang, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,500,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.4
• 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

Abstract

A prosthetic heart valve assembly includes a gasket member and a valve member including a plurality of fasteners and a plurality of engagement members corresponding to the fasteners. The fasteners and/or engagement members may be configured to guide the engagement members into engagement with the fasteners. For example, the fasteners may include U-shaped spring-biased clips, e.g., attached to a core or other portion of a sewing cuff of the gasket member, and the engagement members may include latches or barbed protrusions that engage one or more holes in the fasteners. During use, the gasket member is introduced into a tissue annulus, and secured to the annulus, e.g., using a plurality of clips directed through the sewing cuff. The valve member is then introduced into the annulus and the engagement members are snapped or otherwise guided into engagement with the fasteners to secure the valve member relative to the gasket member.

Claims

1. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:

a gasket member comprising an annular ring advanceable into a tissue annulus, and a sewing cuff extending radially from the annular ring;

a valve member comprising a frame carrying a plurality of valve elements;

a plurality of engagement members extending from one of the gasket member and the valve member, the engagement members comprising tabs including tapered first edges and substantially blunt second edges; and

a plurality of receptacles on the other of the gasket member and the valve member comprising a pocket for receiving respective engagement members therein, each receptacle comprising one or more tapered surfaces for guiding a respective engagement member into the receptacle, the substantially blunt second edges preventing removal of the engagement members from the receptacles.

2. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the plurality of receptacles are attached to the other of the gasket member and the valve member around a periphery thereof.

3. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 2, wherein the receptacles are attached at locations corresponding to commissures of the valve member.

4. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the engagement members extend from the frame of the valve member, and the receptacles are attached to the gasket member.

5. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 4, wherein the engagement members are integrally formed with the frame.

6. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein each engagement element comprises a pair of tabs including tapered first edges and substantially blunt second edges, the tabs disposed opposite one another on the engagement element.

7. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein each receptacle comprises a leg that is resiliently deflectable to accommodate receiving a respective engagement member in the pocket of the receptacle.

8. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 7, wherein the leg is deflectable radially inwardly from an original position to accommodate receiving the respective engagement member in the pocket, and the leg is resiliently biased to return to the original position to secure the engagement member within the receptacle.

9. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein the receptacles are configured to provide an audible click or tactile click when the engagement members are engaged with the respective fasteners.

10. The prosthetic heart valve of claim 1, wherein each receptacle comprises at least one feature for engaging with the substantially blunt edge of a respective tab to prevent removal of the engagement member from the receptacle.

11-23. -23. (canceled)