Holder for heart valve

• US 5,476,510 A
• Filed: 04/21/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Eberhardt, Carol E., Myers, David J., Pinkul, Robert A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SNOW, BRUCE EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US08/230,658
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2, 623/900, 606/1, 606/107, 606/148, 606/205
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/90 Stent for heart valve

Abstract

A holder for a prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. The holder, comprising a holder assembly disposed at the distal end of an elongate handle, includes a plurality of distally-projecting fingers adapted to engage the commissure posts of a stented prosthetic valve. The commissure-engaging fingers are movable in a radially-inward direction toward the longitudinal axis of the holder. A mechanism is provided for retaining the fingers in an inwardly-moved position. When the commissure posts of the valve are coupled to the fingers, inward movement of the fingers causes the commissure posts to be deflected inward with respect to the valve, improving the implanting surgeon'"'"'s access to the valve'"'"'s suture ring and surrounding tissue.

Claims

1. A holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent defining a generally circular base thereof and a plurality of commissure posts projecting generally normally with respect to the periphery of the base, said holder comprising:

an elongate rigid handle having proximal and distal ends, said handle defining a longitudinal axis of said holder;

a main body attached to said distal end of said handle, said main body comprising;

a rotor portion rigidly attached to said distal end of said handle;

a stator portion, rotatably attached to said rotor portion so as to rotate around said longitudinal axis of said holder, said stator portion having an outer periphery;

a plurality of fingers attached to and extending distally from said outer periphery of said stator portion, each of said fingers adapted near a distal tip thereof to be detachably attached to a different commissure post of the valve, and each of said fingers movable generally near said distal tip radially inward toward said longitudinal axis, so that said distal tip of said fingers contacts the commissure posts and deflects the commissure posts inward toward said longitudinal axis; and

,

means for moving said distal tips of said fingers inwardly including;

a central stem, rigidly attached to said rotor portion and projecting axially and distally from said rotor portion, said central stem extending axially through said stator portion, such that a distal end of said stem is centrally disposed with respect to said fingers;

a plurality of connecting lines, each corresponding to a different one of said fingers and each having a first and second end, and each connecting line being attached at said first end to said distal end of said central stem and extending radially outward therefrom to be attached at said second end to said corresponding finger at a point spaced proximally from said distal tip of said corresponding finger;

whereby rotation of said handle and said rotor portion causes said central stem to rotate, thereby wrapping said connecting lines around said central stem and thereby causing inward movement of said distal tips of said fingers.

2. A holder in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a securing mechanism for preventing radially outward movement of said distal tips of said fingers after said fingers have been moved radially inward, whereby the commissure posts remain stably deflected inwardly.

3. A holder for a prosthetic valve having a stent defining a generally circular base thereof, the base having a periphery, the stent having a plurality of commissure posts projecting generally normally with respect to the periphery of the base, said holder comprising:

an elongate rigid handle having proximal and distal ends, said handle defining a longitudinal axis of said holder;

a main body attached to said distal end of said handle and having an outer periphery, said main body comprising;

a rotor portion rigidly attached to said distal end of said handle;

a stator portion, rotatably attached to said rotor portion so as to rotate said rotor portion around said longitudinal axis of said holder, said stator portion having an outer periphery;

a plurality of fingers attached to and extending distally from said outer periphery of said stator portion, each of said fingers adapted near a distal tip thereof to be detachably attached to one commissure post of the valve, and said distal tip of each of said fingers movable generally radially inward toward said longitudinal axis;

a central stem, rigidly attached to said rotor portion and projecting axially and distally from said rotor portion, said central stem extending axially through said stator portion, so that a distal end of said stem is centrally disposed with respect to said fingers;

a plurality of connecting lines, each corresponding to a different one of said fingers and each having a first end and a second end, each connecting line being attached at said first end to said distal end of said central stem and extending radially outward therefrom to be attached at said second end to said corresponding finger at a point spaced proximally from said distal tip of said corresponding finger;

whereby, rotation of said handle and said rotor portion causes said central stem to rotate, thereby wrapping said connecting lines around said central stem and thereby causing inward movement of said distal tips of said fingers.

4. A holder in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a securing mechanism for preventing radially outward movement of said distal tips of said fingers after said fingers have been moved radially inward, whereby the commissure posts remain stably deflected inwardly.