Multi-filament valve stent for a cardisc valvular prosthesis

• US 6,348,068 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Corcym SRL (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sulzer Carbomedics Inc. (Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hamblin, James Henry Jr., Campbell, Louis A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US09/360,127
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.15, 623/1.33, 623/1.49, 623/1.53, 623/1.54, 623/2.14, 623/2.17, 623/2.18, 623/2.36, 623/2.37, 623/2.38, 623/900
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus

Abstract

A prosthetic cardiac valvular member of flexible material includes a flexible stent member which may be either attached to the cardiac valvular member or molded therein. The stent member is formed by a plurality of adjacent filaments which are bound together by suturing, braiding, jacketing or encapsulating. The prosthetic cardiac valvular member may be either a flexible heart valve or an annuloplasty ring. Post members are formed into the stent member when the stent member is used in the flexible heart valve.

Claims

1. A stent comprising:

a stent member;

the stent member being formed by a plurality of adjacent filaments; and

a plurality of sutures binding the plurality of filaments together.

13. The stent as defined in claim 1 wherein the stent member is used in an annuloplasty ring.

2. A cardiac valve prosthetic member comprising:

a cardiac valvular member formed of flexible material;

a stent member connected to the cardiac valvular member;

the stent member being formed by a plurality of adjacent filaments; and

the filaments being bound together and formed of a composite graphite-polymer material.

3. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the stent member is molded into the valve member.

4. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the stent member is secured to a surface of the valve member.

5. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the filaments are bound together by braiding.

6. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the filaments are bound together by a plurality of sutures.

7. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the filaments are bound together by a sleeve member.

8. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the filaments are bound together by being encapsulated in a synthetic material.

9. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the adjacent filaments include at least one elongated filament, a first filament spirally wrapped around the elongated filament in a first direction, and a second filament spirally wrapped around the first filament in a second direction opposite the first direction.

10. The valve as defined in claim 2 flirter comprising a plurality of flexible post members formed in the stent member.

11. The valve as define in claim 10 further comprising a stent portion interconnecting each adjacent post member.

12. The valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the cardiac valvular member is a flexible heart valve.