Cardiac valve prosthesis holder

• US 4,506,394 A
• Filed: 01/13/1983
• Issued: 03/26/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molrose Management Limited
• Original Assignee: Molrose Management Limited
• Inventors: Bedard, Pierre
• Primary Examiner(s): FRINKS, RONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/457,514
• Time in Patent Office: 803 Days
• Field of Search: 3/1.5, 3/1, 128/334 R, 128/334 C
• US Class Current: 623/2.38
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• 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

Abstract

An implantable device which is suited for implantation into a human or animal heart for receiving and removably holding a valve prosthesis is described. The device comprises a ring structure which is adapted to be fixed to the tissue around the orifice of a heart valve after excision of the diseased or damaged natural valve has been effected. In use, the ring structure is fixed in place and then the appropriate valve prosthesis is attached to the ring. When the valve prosthesis fails and has to be replaced with a new prosthesis, the damaged prosthesis can be detached from the ring allowing a replacement prosthesis to be fixed to the ring without affecting the connection between ring structure and tissue.

Claims

1. An implantable device for receiving and removably holding in place a cardiac valve prosthesis comprising a substantially ring-shaped structure provided with means allowing the strucutre to be securely attached to heart tissue and with a plurality of hooks connected to the generally radially outwardly facing portion of the structure and adapted for receiving and retaining a sewing skirt of a valve prosthesis for removably connecting a valve prosthesis to said structure, and a flange connected to the radially outwardly facing portion of the structure and extending substantially radially outwardly.

2. An implantable device for receiving and removably holding in place a cardiac valve prosthesis comprising a substantially ring-shaped structure, fabric covering a portion of said structure, said fabric allowing the structure to be securely sutured to heart tissue, a plurality of hooks connected through the generally radially outwardly facing portion of the structure and adapted for receiving and retaining a sewing skirt of a valve prosthesis, and a flange extending substantially radially outwardly from the structure.

3. An implantable device for receiving and removably holding in place in a human or animal heart a cardiac valve prosthesis comprising a substantially ring-shaped structure;

fabric covering a portion of said structure, said fabric allowing the structure to be sutured to heart tissue so as to, in use, substantially avoid blood leaks;

a plurality of hooks integrally connected to the generally radially outwardly facing portion of the structure, distributed substantially evenly around the circumference of the structure, and adapted for receiving and retaining a sewing skirt of a valve prosthesis; and

a flange extending substantially radially outwardly from the structure and separating the portion of the structure to which the hooks are connected from the portion which is covered with fabric such that, in use when a valve prosthesis, the skirt of which is retained by said hooks and by tying, is replaced, the skirt of the valve prosthesis can be removed from the structure without affecting the connection between the structure and heart tissue.

4. An implantable device for receiving and removably holding in place an aortic valve prosthesis comprising a generally rigid substantially ring-shaped structure provided with a padded fabric covering the portion of said structure which is adapted to sit on aortic tissue to allow the structure to be securely sutured to aortic tissue and with a plurality of hooks connected to the generally radially outwardly facing portion of the structure and adapted for receiving and retaining a sewing skirt of a valve prosthesis and for holding in place a suturing thread for tying the sewing skirt to the structure for removably connecting an aortic valve prosthesis to said structure such that the aortic valve prosthesis is positioned on the structure and the orifice of the valve prosthesis substantially coincides with the orifice of the ring.

6. A device as in claim 4 or 5 further comprising a flange separating the portion of the structure to which the hooks are connected from the portion to which the padded fabric is attached such that, in use when a valve prosthesis, the skirt of which is retained by said hooks and by tying, is replaced, the skirt of the valve prosthesis can be removed from the structure without affecting the connection between the structure and heart tissue.

5. An implantable device for receiving and removably holding in place a cardiac valve prosthesis comprising a substantially ring-shaped structure provided with a padded fabric covering the portion of said structure which is adapted to be sutured to heart tissue to allow the structure to be securely sutured to heart tissue and with a plurality of hooks connected to the generally radially outwardly facing portion of the structure and adapted for receiving and retaining a sewing skirt of a valve prosthesis and for holding in place a suturing thread for tying the sewing skirt to the structure for removably connecting a mitral or tricuspid valve prosthesis to said structure such that the valve prosthesis is positioned in the orifice of the structure.