IMPLANTABLE PROSTHETIC VALVE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MAKING THE SAME
First Claim
1. A percutaneous prosthetic heart valve assembly having enhanced rigidity, comprising:
- a radially compressible and expandable support stent, the support stent having a compressed state for percutaneous delivery of the prosthetic heart valve assembly to an implantation site, the support stent having an expanded state for operation of the prosthetic heart valve assembly at the implantation site, the support stent formed with a plurality of circumferential bands, each band comprising a plurality of linear strut members forming a zig-zag configuration, wherein adjacent strut members form angles of 120 degrees or greater for enhanced rigidity when the support stent is in the expanded state; and
a flexible valve member coupled to the support stent.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable prosthetic valve assembly having a support stent, or frame, having circumferential struts with multiple bends forming obtuse angles when the valve assembly is expanded to its functional size. The frame can be manufactured with one or more of the circumferential struts in a partially collapsed state and a flexible valve member can be mounted to the partially collapsed frame. The partially collapsed struts can be formed with multiple bends having angles selected to facilitate crimping of the frame to a profile suitable for percutaneous delivery. When the frame is expanded, the bends can expand to form obtuse angles, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the frame to better resist closing forces exerted on the valve assembly.
77 Citations
7 Claims
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1. A percutaneous prosthetic heart valve assembly having enhanced rigidity, comprising:
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a radially compressible and expandable support stent, the support stent having a compressed state for percutaneous delivery of the prosthetic heart valve assembly to an implantation site, the support stent having an expanded state for operation of the prosthetic heart valve assembly at the implantation site, the support stent formed with a plurality of circumferential bands, each band comprising a plurality of linear strut members forming a zig-zag configuration, wherein adjacent strut members form angles of 120 degrees or greater for enhanced rigidity when the support stent is in the expanded state; and a flexible valve member coupled to the support stent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A percutaneous prosthetic heart valve assembly having enhanced rigidity, comprising:
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a frame that is radially compressible to a compressed state for percutaneous delivery of the valve assembly and radially expandable to an expanded state for operation of the valve assembly, the frame comprising first and second frame portions connected end-to-end, each frame portion comprising a plurality of circumferential struts, each strut formed with multiple bends, the bends of the first frame portion having angles that are less than the angles of the bends of the second frame portion when the frame is in the expanded state; and a valve member connected to the first frame portion. - View Dependent Claims (7)
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Specification