Bioresorbable heart valve support
First Claim
1. A bioprosthetic heart valve comprising a valvular tissue graft secured to a biocompatible, resorbable heart valve stent, said stent having an open, interconnected porosity, said bioprosthetic heart valve being appropriate for joining with cardiac tissue, wherein said stent is operably resorbed following substantially complete healing of said heart valve with said cardiac tissue.
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Abstract
This invention relates to bioprosthetic heart valve stents that are fashioned of bioresorbable materials. Such stents may be configured as sheaths or frames contoured to the shape of a valvular graft. The stents are eventually resorbed by the patent, leaving a functional "stentless" valve with improved hemodynamic characteristics compared to stented valve implants.
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Citations
15 Claims
- 1. A bioprosthetic heart valve comprising a valvular tissue graft secured to a biocompatible, resorbable heart valve stent, said stent having an open, interconnected porosity, said bioprosthetic heart valve being appropriate for joining with cardiac tissue, wherein said stent is operably resorbed following substantially complete healing of said heart valve with said cardiac tissue.
- 9. A bioprosthetic heart valve comprising a valvular tissue graft secured to a biocompatible, resorbable heart valve stent, said stent having nonuniform rigidity selected such that the native compliance of adjacent host structures is maintained, said bioprosthetic heart valve being appropriate for joining with cardiac tissue, wherein said stent is operably resorbed following substantially complete healing of said heart valve with said cardiac tissue.
Specification