FLEXIBLE COMMISSURE FRAME

• US 20150230923A1
• Filed: 02/18/2015
• Published: 08/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Levi, Tamir S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,058,420 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents

Abstract

Prosthetic devices and frames for implantation at a cardiac valve annulus are provided that include an annular frame (having an inflow end and an outflow end) and a plurality of axial frame members that bridge two circumferentially extending rows of angled struts. The axial frame members can include a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members and a plurality of axial struts in a 1:1 ratio. Along each of the two rows, the frame can have at least three angled struts between adjacent axial frame members.

Claims

1. A prosthetic device for implantation at a cardiac valve annulus, the prosthetic device comprising:

an annular frame having an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of axial frame members bridging two circumferentially extending rows of angled struts, wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members and a plurality of axial struts in a 1;

1 ratio.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a leaflet structure positioned within the frame having a plurality of commissures that are secured to the frame at the leaflet attachment members.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein at least three angled struts separate adjacent axial frame members along the two rows of angled struts.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein exactly six angled struts separate adjacent leaflet attachment members along each of the two rows and exactly three angled struts separate adjacent axial frame members along each of the two rows, such that each axial strut is halfway between adjacent leaflet attachment members.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein each axial frame member extends between locations defined by the convergence of adjacent angled struts.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising an inner skirt secured to an interior portion of the annular frame, and an outer skirt secured to an exterior portion of the annular frame.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises exactly four rows of angled struts.

8. The device of claim 2, wherein the leaflet structure comprises exactly three leaflets arranged in a tricuspid configuration, wherein the frame comprises exactly three axial struts and exactly three leaflet attachment members, and wherein exactly three angled struts separate adjacent axial frame members along each of the two rows of angled struts.

9. An annular frame for a prosthetic heart valve, the annular frame comprising:

an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of axial frame members spaced angularly around the circumference of the frame, wherein the plurality of axial frame members bridge two circumferentially extending rows of angled struts, and wherein each of the two rows comprise at least three angled struts between adjacent axial frame members.

10. The frame of claim 9, and wherein each of the two rows comprises exactly three angled struts between adjacent axial frame members.

11. The frame of claim 10, wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members, and wherein each of the two rows comprise exactly six angled struts between adjacent leaflet attachment members.

12. The frame of claim 9, wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members, and wherein each of the two rows comprises four angled struts between adjacent axial frame members and eight angled struts between adjacent leaflet attachment members.

13. The frame of claim 9, wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises a plurality of leaflet attachment members and a plurality of axial struts in a 1:

1 ratio.

14. The frame of claim 13, wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises exactly three leaflet attachment members and exactly three axial struts.

15. The frame of claim 11, wherein the leaflet attachment members extend between locations defined by the convergence of the upper ends of adjacent angled struts, and the axial struts extend between locations defined by the convergence of the lower ends of adjacent angled struts.

16. The frame of claim 9, wherein:

the plurality of axial frame members comprises a plurality of axially extending leaflet attachment members and a plurality of axial struts;

the two rows of angled struts comprise a first row and a second row, wherein the first row is closer to the outflow end than the second row;

the leaflet attachment members extend from locations defined by the convergence of the upper ends of adjacent angled struts along the first row to locations defined by the convergence of the lower ends of adjacent angled struts along the second row; and

the axial struts extend between locations defined by the convergence of the lower ends of adjacent angled struts along the first row to locations defined by the convergence of upper ends of adjacent angled struts along the second row.

17. The frame of claim 9, wherein the frame comprises exactly four rows of angled struts.

18. A prosthetic device for implantation at a cardiac valve annulus, the prosthetic device comprising:

an annular frame having an inflow end, an outflow end, at least four rows of circumferentially extending angled struts, and exactly six axial frame members bridging two rows of the four rows of circumferentially extending angled struts,

wherein the plurality of axial frame members comprises exactly three axially extending leaflet attachment members and exactly three axial struts;

wherein each of the two rows comprises exactly three angled struts between each pair of a leaflet attachment member and an adjacent axial strut and exactly six angled struts between adjacent leaflet attachment members; and

a tri-leaflet valve member positioned within the frame having commissures that are secured to the frame at the leaflet attachment members.

19. The prosthetic device of claim 18, wherein:

the at least four rows comprise a first row and a second row, wherein the first row is closer to the outflow end than the second row,

the leaflet attachment members extend from locations defined by the convergence of the upper ends of adjacent angled struts along the first row to locations defined by the convergence of the upper ends of adjacent angled struts along the second row, and

the axial struts extend between locations defined by the convergence of the lower ends of adjacent angled struts along the first row to locations defined by the convergence of lower ends of adjacent angled struts along the second row.

20. The prosthetic device of claim 18, wherein the frame comprises exactly four rows of circumferentially extending angled struts.