REPOSITIONABLE ENDOLUMINAL SUPPORT STRUCTURE AND ITS APPLICATIONS

• US 20110230956A1
• Filed: 03/22/2011
• Published: 09/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Jenesis Surgical LLC
• Inventors: WHITE, Jennifer K.
• Granted Patent: US 9,039,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.16
• 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 2/2469 with resilient valve members, e.g. conical spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• 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 2230/0054 V-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 2250/0004 adjustable

Abstract

An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by pivot joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

Claims

1. An implantable medical apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of elongated strut members interlinked by a plurality of pivot joints, wherein the pivot joints cooperate with the strut members to adjustably define a shaped structure between a compressed orientation and an expanded orientation.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an actuation mechanism to urge the pivot joints within a range of motion.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a pivot joint forms a scissor mechanism with a first strut member and a second strut member.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the strut members are arranged as a series of linked scissor mechanisms.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a prosthetic valve coupled to the shaped structure.

8. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a plurality of pliable valve leaflets having commissures at the intersection of two strut members.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a skirt material coupled to the strut members.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shaped structure is one of a cylindrical, a conical, or an hourglass shape.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

11. A medical stent implantable within a biological lumen, comprising:

a plurality of elongated strut members, including a first strut member and a second strut member; and

a pivot joint connecting the first strut member and the second strut member.

12. The stent of claim 11, wherein the pivot joint forms a scissor mechanism with the first strut member and the second strut member.

13. The stent of claim 12, wherein the pivot joint bisects the first strut member and the second strut member.

14. The stent of claim 12, wherein the plurality of strut members are arranged as a series of linked scissor mechanisms.

15. The stent of claim 11, wherein the pivot joint interconnects a first end of the first strut member with a first end of the second strut member.

16. The stent of claim 11, further comprising an adjustment mechanism to exert a force to urge the strut members about the pivot joint within a range of motion.

17. The stent of claim 11, wherein the strut members are non-linear.

18. The stent of claim 11, further comprising a prosthetic valve coupled to the strut members.

21. The stent of claim 18, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a plurality of pliable valve leaflets having commissures at the intersection of two strut members.

22. The stent of claim 21, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a skirt material coupled to the strut members.

23. The stent of claim 11, wherein the strut members are arranged to form one of a cylindrical, a conical, or an hourglass shape.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)

24. A prosthetic valve assembly implantable within a biological lumen, comprising:

a support structure, comprising a plurality of elongated strut members interlinked by a plurality of pivot joints, wherein the pivot joints cooperate with the strut members to adjustably define a shaped structure between a compressed orientation and an expanded orientation; and

a prosthetic valve connected to the support structure.

25. The assembly of claim 24, further comprising an actuation mechanism to urge the pivot joints within a range of motion.

26. The assembly of claim 24, wherein a pivot joint forms a scissor mechanism with a first strut member and a second strut member.

27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the strut members are arranged as a series of linked scissor mechanisms.

28. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a plurality of pliable valve leaflets having commissures at the intersection of two strut members.

29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a skirt material coupled to the strut members.

30. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the shaped structure is one of a cylindrical, a conical, or an hourglass shape.

31. A prosthetic valve assembly implantable within a biological lumen, comprising:

a medical stent, comprising;

a plurality of elongated strut members, including a first strut member and a second strut member; and

a pivot joint connecting the first strut member and the second strut member; and

a prosthetic valve connected to the medical stent.

32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the pivot joint forms a scissor mechanism with the first strut member and the second strut member.

33. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the pivot joint bisects the first strut member and the second strut member.

34. The assembly of claim 32, wherein the plurality of strut members are arranged as a series of linked scissor mechanisms.

35. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the pivot joint interconnects a first end of the first strut member with a first end of the second strut member.

36. The assembly of claim 31, further comprising an adjustment mechanism to exert a force to urge the strut members about the pivot joint within a range of motion.

37. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the strut members are non-linear.

38. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a plurality of pliable valve leaflets having commissures at the intersection of two strut members.

39. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a skirt material coupled to the strut members.

40. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the strut members are arranged to form one of a cylindrical, a conical, or an hourglass shape.