Prosthetic heart valve with increased valve lumen

• US 6,719,790 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Vanney, Guy P., Brendzel, Avrom M., Ringdal, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Application Number:
  US10/152,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20020198595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2--, 623/FOR.101
• US Class Current: 623/2.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442

Abstract

A heart valve prosthesis having a valve housing providing a lumen therethrough. The valve housing has a first annulus on one end and a second annulus on the other end spaced apart from the first annulus. A suture cuff is used for attaching the valve housing to heart tissue of a patient. The cuff is attached between the first annulus and the second annulus. The cuff is positioned such that prosthesis is attached in a supra-annular position relative to a tissue annulus of the heart. The design allows for an increased valve lumen.

Claims

1. A heart valve prosthesis for replacing a native valve in a tissue annulus of a heart of a patient, comprising:

a monolithic single piece valve orifice housing providing a lumen therethrough and having an outer circumference, a distal annulus, and upstream and downstream rims integral with the rest of the housing and which define a middle surface therebetween and formed on the monolithic signal piece housing, and the rims having rim diameters and extending around the outer circumference of the housing adapted to provide additional stiffness to the single piece valve orifice housing;

at least one occluder coupled to the orifice housing movable about a pivot axis between an open position and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is substantially blocked, wherein the pivot axis is configured to be positioned on an upstream side of the tissue annulus of the heart;

a flexible suture cuff configured to couple to the orifice housing between the rims around the middle surface and to a proximal side of the tissue annulus of the heart by a cuff retention mechanism; and

a lip formed with the single piece valve housing and defined in the outer circumference of the housing between one of said rims and the distal annulus and having a diameter less than the rim diameter, the lip configured to extend through the tissue annulus and generally conforming to the tissue annulus whereby the rims and suture cuff do not substantially limit the area of the lumen of the housing.

2. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the suture cuff is rotatably coupled to the valve housing.

3. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein a diameter of the lumen is greater than about 85% of a diameter of the lip.

4. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the valve prosthesis is adapte for aortic valve replacement.

5. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the valve prosthesis is adapted for mitral valve replacement.

6. The prosthesis of claim 1 including a second lip whereby the prosthesis is adapted for both mitral and aortic valve replacement.

7. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the orifice housing is fabricated from pyrolytic carbon or an alloy of pyrolytic carbon.

8. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the valve orifice housing includes a coating or film of a durable and blood compatible material.

9. The prosthesis of claim 1 further comprising:

a circumferential ring generally confirming to the valve orifice housing and between the rims, the ring adapted for clamping onto the suture cuff thereby securing the suture cuff to the valve orifice housing.

10. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the cuff retention mechanism comprises:

a ring coupled to the rims and to the suture cuff thereby securing the suture cuff between the rims.

11. The prosthesis of claim 10 wherein the ring comprises a spring clip.

12. The prosthesis of claim 10 wherein the ring clamps onto the suture cuff.

13. The prosthesis of claim 12 wherein the rims have a height h in a radial direction to provide stiffness to the housing.

14. The prosthesis of claim 13 wherein the cuff retention mechanism includes means for attaching the suture cuff to the orifice housing positioned between the rims and wherein an outer diameter of the means for attaching is less than outer diameters of the rims.

15. The prosthesis of claim 1 wherein one of the rims is segmented into at least two rim segments to facilitate placement of the suture cuff between the rims.

16. The prosthesis of claim 15 including a continuous ring in the suture cuff to maintain attachment of the suture cuff to the housing.

17. The prosthesis of claim 1 further including a V-shaped groove defined between the rims.