TRANSCATHETER VALVE HAVING REDUCED SEAM EXPOSURE

• US 20130144382A1
• Filed: 12/05/2011
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: DeStefano, Alaena
• Granted Patent: US 9,480,558 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.14
• 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 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: B23P 15/001 valves or valve housings welding B23K; valve housings per se F16K

Abstract

A transcatheter valve having an expandable frame and a collapsible multi-portion skirt within the frame are provided with seams between the portions of the skirt that are located to cooperate with features of the frame and thereby reduce the exposure of the seams.

Claims

1. :

A valve prosthesis comprising;

a. a self-expanding frame comprising struts and nodes which define a plurality of cells, the frame being generally cylindrical with a longitudinal axis and an inflow end;

b. a valve body supported by the frame and comprising;

i. a plurality of leaflets sewn to a skirt to form joints between each leaflet and the skirt, in which each joint between each leaflet and the skirt is curved to define upper and lower portions of each joint,

ii. adjoining leaflets sewn together to form commissures which are sewn to the frame downstream of the inflow end, and

iii. a bottom edge sewn to the inflow end of the frame, and

iv. at least one side seam which extends between a lower portion of a joint and the bottom edge.

2. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which the lower portion of the joint has a lower apex region, and the side seam extends between the lower apex region and the bottom edge.

3. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which at least one side seam is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

4. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which at least one side seam makes an acute angle with the longitudinal axis.

5. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which the skirt comprises three substantially identical portions, and each portion is asymmetric about an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction.

6. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which the skirt has three substantially identical portions, a bottom edge of each portion comprises five end tabs symmetrically arranged about an axis of the skirt which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and passes through an upper apex of such portion, and at least one side seam extends between the lower apex region and an end tab which does not lie on the axis of the skirt.

7. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which the skirt is aligned with the frame such that at least one side seam substantially follows a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes.

8. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 1, in which the skirt is aligned with the frame such that at least one side seam and a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes are aligned with each other within ±

1 mm.

9. :

A valve prosthesis comprising a self-expanding frame having a longitudinal axis and an inflow end, and comprising a plurality of cells; and

a valve body having a skirt with a bottom edge sewn to the inflow end of the frame, a plurality of leaflets sewn to the skirt along a seam having upper and lower portions, and at least one side seam between the lower portion and the bottom edge.

10. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which the lower portion of the joint has a lower apex region, and the side seam extends between the lower apex region and the bottom edge.

11. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which at least one side seam is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis.

12. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which at least one side seam makes an acute angle with the longitudinal axis.

13. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which the skirt comprises three substantially identical portions, and each portion is asymmetric about an axis substantially aligned with the longitudinal direction.

14. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which the skirt has three substantially identical portions, a bottom edge of each portion comprises five end tabs symmetrically arranged about an axis of the skirt which is substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis and passes through an upper apex of such portion, and at least one side seam extends between the lower apex region and an end tab which does not lie on the axis of the skirt.

15. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which the frame comprises struts and nodes, and the skirt is aligned with the frame such that at least one side seam substantially follows a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes.

16. :

The valve prosthesis of claim 9, in which the frame comprises struts and nodes, and the skirt is aligned with the frame such that at least one side seam and a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes are aligned with each other within ±

1 mm.

17. :

A method of manufacturing a valve prosthesis comprising;

providing a self-expanding frame having a longitudinal axis and an inflow end, and comprising a plurality of cells;

providing a valve body comprising a skirt having a bottom edge;

sewing the bottom edge to the inflow end of the frame;

providing the skirt with a plurality of leaflets attached along a seam having upper and lower portions; and

providing the skirt with at least one side seam extending between the lower portion of the seam and the bottom edge of the skirt.

18. :

The method of claim 18, in which the lower portion of the joint has a lower apex region, and the side seam extends between the lower apex region and the bottom edge.

19. :

The method of claim 18, in which the frame comprises struts and nodes;

the method further comprising aligning the skirt with the frame such that at least one side seam substantially follows a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes.

20. :

The method of claim 18, in which the frame comprises struts and nodes;

the method further comprising aligning at least one side seam and a line defined by three immediately adjacent nodes with each other within ±

1 mm.