×

Rapid assembly, concentric mating stent, tissue heart valve with enhanced clamping and tissue alignment

  • US 5,423,887 A
  • Filed: 08/03/1992
  • Issued: 06/13/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/24/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
Patent Images

1. A concentric mating stent tissue heart valve, comprising:

  • an inner stent comprising an inner stent frame covered with a fabric, the inner stent frame having an annular base and three posts extending from the base along an axis of the valve, said posts being approximately equally spaced around the base, and connected by a scalloped edge, and each of said posts having a plurality of outward extending tissue alignment members which are not registered with holes in an outer stent, wherein the tissue alignment members extend through the fabric covering the inner stent frame;

    at least one piece of tissue wrapped around the inner stent, and having a plurality of holes registered with the tissue alignment members of the inner stent, wherein the holes are configured to form three approximately uniformly sized valve leaflets from said piece of tissue, said piece of tissue having a first portion situated behind the posts of the inner stent and along the scalloped edge, and having a second portion situated along the annular base of the inner stent;

    said outer stent configured to be concentric with the inner stent, with said piece of tissue secured between the stents primarily by clamping, comprising an outer stent frame, a garter spring, an elastomeric collar, and a fabric cover;

    wherein the outer stent frame has an annular base and three posts extending from the base along the axis of the valve, said posts being approximately equally spaced around the base and connected by a scalloped edge, each of said posts configured for alignment with a corresponding one of said inner stent posts, and each of said outer stent posts having a window adapted for nesting with the inner stent post corresponding to said outer stent post, each outer stent post also having a window extension which extends through the annular base below each window, which window extensions are configured so that the outer stent frame is capable of being spread open at the annular base, wherein the annular base has a circular groove around its periphery, adapted for placement of the garter spring thereon;

    wherein the garter spring is placed in the circular groove, and the elastomeric collar is placed around the garter spring to form an integrated assembly which is covered by the fabric to form the outer stent;

    wherein the outer stent posts, adapted for nesting with corresponding inner stent posts, exert a first substantially self-adjusting clamping force on the first portion of the tissue situated between said stent posts, and the annular base of the outer stent, configured with said window extensions and said circular groove into which is placed said garter spring, in conjunction with the annular base of the inner stent, exerts a second substantially self-adjusting clamping force on the second portion of the tissue secured between said annular base.

View all claims
  • 7 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×