FOLDING RING IMPLANT FOR HEART VALVE
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus and methods are provided for use with a prosthetic valve that is designated for implantation at a patient'"'"'s native heart valve, including a valve ring having a plurality of ring segments, each of the segments being hingedly coupled to an adjacent segment at a pivot joint. The valve ring is placed adjacent to a surface of the native heart valve, the prosthetic valve having been coupled to the valve ring. In an expanded state thereof, the valve ring defines a ring, all of the pivot joints being disposed in a plane that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ring. The valve ring is foldable into a shape that has a generally circular cross-section that defines and surrounds at least in part a central lumen, by folding the segments with respect to each other, at the pivot joints. Other embodiments are also described.
-
Citations
38 Claims
-
1-17. -17. (canceled)
-
18. Apparatus for use at a native heart valve of a subject, the apparatus comprising:
-
an implant, dimensioned for transluminal advancement to the native heart valve, and comprising; a plurality of metal segments, coupled at a plurality of joints to define a ring in which the plurality of joints alternate between upper joints and lower joints disposed along the ring; and a plurality of anchors, each of the anchors coupled to the ring at a respective one of the, joints; and a tool, couplable to the implant, and configured to anchor the implant at the native heart valve by rotation of the tool. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
32. A method for use at a native valve of a heart Of a subject, the method comprising:
-
providing an implant that includes (a) a ring that includes a plurality of metal. segments, and defines a plurality of joints at which each segment of the plurality of segments is coupled to adjacent segments of the plurality of segments, and (b) a plurality of anchors, each of the anchors coupled to the ring at a respective one of the joints, transluminally advancing, to the valve via a catheter, the implant in a folded state in which the plurality of joints include alternating upper joints and lower joints, the upper joints being proximal from the lower joints; deploying the ring within the heart; subsequently, changing an angular disposition between each segment and its adjacent segments, by applying a force at at least some of the joints; and securing the ring to the valve by rotating a tool to anchor the anchors to the valve. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
Specification