Device for regulating the flow of blood through the blood system
First Claim
1. An implantable prosthesis device for regulating the flow of blood in a blood vessel of a patient, the device comprising:
- a support frame made of a memory material configured to be positioned against an inner surface of the blood vessel, the support frame having a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the support frame, wherein the support frame is compressible to a first configuration adapted for delivery of the device into the blood vessel and is expandable to a second configuration adapted for implantation of said device within the blood vessel; and
at least one valve element attached to the support frame, the valve element comprising at least one wall within the lumen of the support frame that is displaceable by the flow of blood through the blood vessel such that when blood flows through the blood vessel in a forward direction, the at least one wall moves toward the inner surface of the blood vessel into a collapsed, generally flattened configuration, the at least one wall being moveable away from the inner surface of the blood vessel into an open configuration when blood flows through the blood vessel in a reverse direction;
wherein the wall in its open configuration forms at least in part a flow restriction pocket defined between the wall and the inner surface of the blood vessel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve prosthesis is disclosed which is implantable within a vein or other blood vessel of a patient using a minimally-invasive surgical procedure. The prosthesis includes a tubular wire frame which presses radially outward against the inner walls of the blood vessel following implantation to hold the prosthesis in position. Multiple flow-resistive pockets that open and close in response to changes in blood flow direction are attached to the frame to impede the flow of blood in the reverse direction. The prosthesis is implanted using an introducer catheter which holds the prosthesis in a radially-compressed state as the prosthesis is inserted into and positioned within the blood vessel.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An implantable prosthesis device for regulating the flow of blood in a blood vessel of a patient, the device comprising:
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a support frame made of a memory material configured to be positioned against an inner surface of the blood vessel, the support frame having a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the support frame, wherein the support frame is compressible to a first configuration adapted for delivery of the device into the blood vessel and is expandable to a second configuration adapted for implantation of said device within the blood vessel; and
at least one valve element attached to the support frame, the valve element comprising at least one wall within the lumen of the support frame that is displaceable by the flow of blood through the blood vessel such that when blood flows through the blood vessel in a forward direction, the at least one wall moves toward the inner surface of the blood vessel into a collapsed, generally flattened configuration, the at least one wall being moveable away from the inner surface of the blood vessel into an open configuration when blood flows through the blood vessel in a reverse direction;
wherein the wall in its open configuration forms at least in part a flow restriction pocket defined between the wall and the inner surface of the blood vessel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. An implantable prosthesis device for regulating the flow of blood in a blood vessel of a patient, the device comprising:
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a support frame made of a memory material configured to be positioned against an inner surface of the blood vessel, the support frame having a lumen extending between a proximal end and a distal end of the support frame, wherein the support frame is compressible to a first configuration adapted for delivery of the device into the blood vessel and is expandable to a second configuration adapted for implantation of said device within the blood vessel; and
at least one flow restriction pocket supported within the lumen, the pocket comprising at least one wall supported within the lumen in both a proximal portion and a distal portion of the support frame, the at least one wall having a proximal lip configured to define an opening of the pocket in the proximal portion of the support frame between the wall and the inner surface of the blood vessel, the at least one wall being displaceable by the flow of blood through the blood vessel such that the wall is moveable toward a collapsed configuration which generally decreases the size of the opening when blood flows through the blood vessel in a forward direction, and is moveable toward an open configuration which generally increases the size of the opening when blood flows through the blood vessel in a reverse direction. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification