RETAINING MECHANISMS FOR PROSTHETIC HEART VALVES
First Claim
1. A method of treating aortic insufficiency, comprising:
- delivering a support structure to a position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of a native heart valve of a patient, the support structure comprising an annular body defining an interior and at least one projection extending radially inwardly from the annular body;
positioning the support structure around the leaflets of the native heart valve such that the leaflets of the native heart valve are located within the interior of the annular body;
advancing an expandable prosthetic heart valve into the native heart valve and into the interior of the annular body, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a radially expandable annular frame defining a plurality of openings; and
expanding the expandable prosthetic heart valve into contact with the leaflets of the native valve, thereby causing the leaflets of the native valve to be frictionally secured between an inner surface of the annular body and an outer surface of the prosthetic heart valve and causing the at least one projection and a portion of one of the leaflets contacted by the at least one projection to extend into one of said openings of the frame.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
According to one representative embodiment, a method of treating aortic insufficiency comprises delivering a support structure to a position around the leaflets of a native heart valve. The support structure comprises an annular body defining an interior and at least one projection extending radially inwardly from the annular body. An expandable prosthetic heart valve can be advanced into the native heart valve and into the interior of the annular body. The prosthetic heart valve can be expanded into contact with the leaflets of the native valve, thereby causing the leaflets of the native valve to be frictionally secured between an inner surface of the annular body and an outer surface of the prosthetic heart valve and causing the at least one projection and a portion of one of the leaflets contacted by the at least one projection to extend into an opening of the frame of the prosthetic valve.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method of treating aortic insufficiency, comprising:
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delivering a support structure to a position on or adjacent to the surface of the outflow side of a native heart valve of a patient, the support structure comprising an annular body defining an interior and at least one projection extending radially inwardly from the annular body; positioning the support structure around the leaflets of the native heart valve such that the leaflets of the native heart valve are located within the interior of the annular body; advancing an expandable prosthetic heart valve into the native heart valve and into the interior of the annular body, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a radially expandable annular frame defining a plurality of openings; and expanding the expandable prosthetic heart valve into contact with the leaflets of the native valve, thereby causing the leaflets of the native valve to be frictionally secured between an inner surface of the annular body and an outer surface of the prosthetic heart valve and causing the at least one projection and a portion of one of the leaflets contacted by the at least one projection to extend into one of said openings of the frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An assembly for treating aortic insufficiency, comprising:
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a prosthetic heart valve configured to be implanted within a native heart valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially expandable annular frame defining a plurality of openings; and a support stent configured to be implanted around the leaflets of the native heart valve such that the native leaflets can be frictionally secured between the support stent and the prosthetic valve, the support stent comprising an annular metal frame that defines one or more peaks and one or more valleys along its circumference, the support stent frame being radially compressible into a compressed state and self-expandable into an uncompressed state, the support stent further comprising at least one projection comprising a non-metallic material, the at least one projection extending radially inwardly from the support stent frame and configured to press a portion of one of the native leaflets into one of the openings of the frame of the prosthetic valve. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expandable prosthetic device to a native heart valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a first elongated shaft having a distal end portion; a second elongated shaft extending over the first shaft; a plurality of attachment arms extending distally from the distal end portion of the first shaft, each attachment arm having an aperture configured to receive an end portion of a retaining arm of the prosthetic device; a plurality of release wires extending alongside the attachment arms and configured to extend through corresponding openings in the end portions of the retaining arms when the end portions of the retaining arms are inserted through corresponding openings in the attachment arms so as to releasably secure the prosthetic device to the attachment arms; and a plurality of sheaths extending distally from the distal end of the first shaft, each sheath extending co-axially over a respective pair of an attachment arm and a release wire so as to maintain the release wire in close proximity to the attachment arm. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expandable prosthetic device to a native heart valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a first elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion configured to be releasably coupled to the prosthetic device during delivery of the prosthetic device into a patient; a second elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the second shaft extending over the first shaft, the distal end portion of the second shaft comprising a sheath configured to at least partially receive the prosthetic device in a radially compressed state, the second shaft configured to be selectively bendable; a handle coupled to the proximal end portions of the first and second shafts, the handle having an adjustment mechanism configured to adjust the curvature of the second shaft, wherein the first shaft is allowed to move in a proximal direction relative to the second shaft and the handle when the second shaft foreshortens as a result of the adjustment mechanism being actuated to increase the curvature of the second shaft. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A delivery apparatus for delivering a radially self-expandable prosthetic device to a native heart valve, the apparatus comprising:
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a first elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the distal end portion configured to be releasably coupled to the prosthetic device during delivery of the prosthetic device into a patient; a second elongated shaft having a proximal end portion and a distal end portion, the second shaft extending over the first shaft, the distal end portion of the second shaft comprising a sheath configured to at least partially receive the prosthetic device in a radially compressed state; a handle coupled to the proximal end portions of the first and second shafts, the handle comprising a rotatable knob operatively connected to the first shaft and configured to effect axial movement of the first shaft relative to the second shaft to deploy the prosthetic device from the sheath of the second shaft, the handle further comprising a spring configured to provide resistance against rotation of the knob. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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Specification