Bioprosthetic heart valve implantation device
First Claim
1. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
- a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis bodyb) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said distal hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member;
c) at least one releasable attachment means for releasably holding the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space such that the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis is connected to the strut members; and
d) a proximal ring member attached to the proximal ends of said strut members, said proximal ring member being attachable about the proximal inflow annulus of the prosthesis such that, when a force is applied in the proximal direction against the distal hub member of the holding apparatus, such force will be transferred through said strut members to said proximal ring member, thereby resulting in the application of a distally directed pulling force which is annularly distributed about the proximal inflow annulus of the prosthesis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In general, the present invention comprises an holding apparatus for facilitating implantation of a prosthetic heart valve within a mammalian heart. The holding apparatus generally comprises a cage or enclosure having a heart valve prosthesis retention space defined therewith. The proximal end of the holding apparatus is releasably attached to the proximal end of the heart valve prosthesis such that, when the holding apparatus is advanced in a forward direction, a "pulling" force will be exerted upon the proximal end of the prosthesis, rather than a "pushing" force being exerted upon the distal end of the prosthesis. The releasable attachment of the prosthesis to the holding apparatus may be accomplished by any suitable attachment member, and preferably comprises a number of suture threads which are passed through the prosthesis and threaded upon the holding apparatus at location(s) which are easily accessible such that the surgeon may cut the suture threads to effect release of the heart valve prosthesis, during the prosthesis implantation procedure. Also described and claimed are associated methods for utilizing the above-described holding apparatus to effect implantation of a prosthetic heart valve.
272 Citations
82 Claims
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1. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said distal hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; c) at least one releasable attachment means for releasably holding the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space such that the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis is connected to the strut members; and d) a proximal ring member attached to the proximal ends of said strut members, said proximal ring member being attachable about the proximal inflow annulus of the prosthesis such that, when a force is applied in the proximal direction against the distal hub member of the holding apparatus, such force will be transferred through said strut members to said proximal ring member, thereby resulting in the application of a distally directed pulling force which is annularly distributed about the proximal inflow annulus of the prosthesis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for implanting a prosthetic heart valve having a generally cylindrical prosthesis body, an inflow aperture formed at a proximal end of the generally cylindrical prosthesis body, an outflow aperture formed at the distal end of the prosthesis body, a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body, and a longitudinal axis projectable longitudinally through the prosthesis body, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a holding apparatus which comprises a rigid holding apparatus body having a distal end, a proximal end and a hollow heart valve prosthesis retention space defined therewithin, and a releasable attachment member for releasably connecting a heart valve prosthesis mounted within the prosthesis retention space, to the holding apparatus; b) positioning the heart valve prosthesis within the prosthesis retention space of the holding apparatus said heart valve prosthesis having a distal end and a proximal end, an outflow annulus being formed at the proximal end thereof; c) utilizing the releasable attachment member to temporarily connect at least the proximal end of the holding apparatus to at least the proximal end of the prosthesis; d) positioning the holding apparatus, with the heart valve prosthesis releasably mounted therewithin, a spaced distance away from an intended implantation site in the body of a patient with the proximal end of the prosthesis closest to the implantation site; e) passing a plurality of suture threads through the intended implantation site in the body of the patient and through the inflow annulus of the heart valve prosthesis; f) pushing the distal end of the body toward the implantation site, to advance the holding apparatus, with the heart valve prosthesis releasably mounted therein, over the previously placed suture threads, to a position where the inflow annulus of the heart valve prosthesis is in contact with the intended implantation site within the body of the patient; g) causing the releasable connection member to release the heart valve prosthesis from its connection with the holding apparatus; and h) extracting and removing the holding apparatus, leaving the heart valve prosthesis at the intended implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform an hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body; b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; c) an attachment ring disposed on the proximal ends of the strut members for maintaining the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space, the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis being releasably connected to the attachment ring to allow the holding apparatus to be selectively disengaged from the prosthesis, said attachment ring further comprising; an inner ring member attached to the proximal ends of the strut members; and an outer ring member releasably attached to the inner ring member, a portion of said prosthesis being frictionally captured between the inner and outer ring members; wherein the application of a force in a distal direction to the hub member subsequent to the detachment of the outer ring member from the inner ring member facilitates the distal movement of the inner ring member relative to the outer ring member thereby resulting in the separation of the inner and outer ring members from each other and the release of the portion of the prosthesis from therebetween. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A method for implanting a prosthetic heart valve having a generally cylindrical prosthesis body, an inflow aperture formed at a proximal end of the generally cylindrical prosthesis body, an outflow aperture formed at the distal end of the prosthesis body, a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body, and a longitudinal axis projectable longitudinally through the prosthesis body, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) providing a holding apparatus which comprises a rigid body having a distal end, a proximal end and a hollow heart valve prosthesis retention space defined therewithin, and an attachment ring disposed on the proximal end of the body for releasably connecting a heart valve prosthesis mounted within the prosthesis retention space to the holding apparatus. b) positioning the heart valve prosthesis within the prosthesis retention space of the holding apparatus, said heart valve prosthesis having a distal end and a proximal end, an outflow annulus being formed at the proximal end thereof; c) utilizing the attachment ring to temporarily connect at least the proximal end of the body to at least the proximal end of the prosthesis; d) positioning the holding apparatus, with the heart valve prosthesis releasably mounted therewithin, a spaced distance away from an intended implantation site in the body of a patient with the proximal end of the prosthesis closest to the implantation site; e) passing a plurality of suture threads through the intended implantation site in the body of the patient and through the inflow annulus of the heart valve prosthesis; f) pushing the distal end of the body toward the implantation site, to advance the holding apparatus, with the heart valve prosthesis releasably mounted therein, over the previously placed suture threads, to a position where the inflow annulus of the heart valve prosthesis is in contact with the intended implantation site within the body of the patient; g) causing the attachment ring to release the heart valve prosthesis from its connection with the holding apparatus; and h) extracting and removing the holding apparatus, leaving the heart valve prosthesis at the intended implantation site. - View Dependent Claims (50, 51, 52)
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53. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said distal hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; c) at least one releasable attachment means for releasably holding the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space such that the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis is connected to the strut members; d) a plurality of first suture threads anchored to the proximal ends of the strut members of the holding apparatus, the first suture threads being passed through the inflow annulus at the proximal end of a heart valve prosthesis disposed within the hollow prosthesis retention space of the holding apparatus to connect the proximal ends of the strut members to the inflow annulus of the prosthesis; and
,e) a plurality of second suture threads anchored to the distal hub member of the holding apparatus, the second suture threads being passed through the heart valve prosthesis at locations which are distal to the proximal end of the prosthesis to effect further connection of the prosthesis to the holding apparatus, wherein, a portion of each of said first and second suture threads being passed through and positioned in side-by-side juxtaposition at first locations on the holding apparatus which are sufficiently accessible during the implantation procedure to permit concurrently severing by a cutting instrument of said first and second suture threads at said first locations, thereby causing the prosthesis to be disconnected from the holding apparatus such that the holding apparatus may be subsequently extracted and removed, leaving the heart valve prosthesis in place. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55)
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56. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body and configured so as not to block the entire outflow annulus of the bioprosthesis positioned within the holding apparatus, thereby allowing one to see the orientation of the valve leaflets by looking downwardly through the outflow annulus of the bioprosthesis; b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said distal hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; and c) at least one releasable attachment means for releasably holding the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space such that the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis is connected to the strut members. - View Dependent Claims (57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67)
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68. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said distal hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; and c) at least one releasable attachment means for releasably holding the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space such that the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis is connected to the strut members, wherein, said plurality of elongate strut members and said releasable attachments are attached about the bioprosthesis in such a manner as to rigidly hold the bioprosthesis in a fully open configuration, thereby deterring the formation of plications in the bioprosthesis during the implantation procedure. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79)
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80. A stentless aortic heart valve system incorporating a holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a stentless heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform an hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said system comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body; b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; and c) an attachment ring disposed on the proximal ends of the strut members for maintaining the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space, the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis being releasably connected to the attachment ring to allow the holding apparatus to be selectively disengaged from the prosthesis, said stentless aortic bioprosthesis having a mesh ring attached to the inflow annulus of the bioprosthesis and being positioned within the prosthesis retention space of the holding apparatus, such that the mesh ring of the bioprosthesis protrudes beyond the proximal end of the holding apparatus.
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81. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform an hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body and configured so as not to block the entire outflow annulus of the bioprosthesis positioned within the holding apparatus, thereby allowing one to see the orientation of the valve leaflets by looking downwardly through the outflow annulus of the bioprosthesis; b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; and c) an attachment ring disposed on the proximal ends of the strut members for maintaining the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space, the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis being releasably connected to the attachment ring to allow the holding apparatus to be selectively disengaged from the prosthesis.
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82. A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, an outflow annulus at the distal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform an hemodynamic valving function and a sewing ring attached to the inflow annulus to facilitate suturing of the inflow annulus to an endogenous opening, said holding apparatus comprising:
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a) a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis body; b) a plurality of elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends which are attached to said hub member such that the strut members extend substantially downward therefrom so as to define a hollow prosthesis retention space inboard of said strut members and beneath said hub member; and c) an attachment ring disposed on the proximal ends of the strut members for maintaining the prosthesis within said prosthesis retention space, the proximal inflow end of the prosthesis being releasably connected to the attachment ring to allow the holding apparatus to be selectively disengaged from the prosthesis, wherein, said attachment ring is attached to the bioprosthesis in such a manner as to rigidly hold the bioprosthesis in a fully open configuration, thereby deterring the formation of plications in the bioprosthesis during the implantation procedure.
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Specification