Percutaneously deliverable heart valve
First Claim
1. A foldable heart valve prosthesis to replace a diseased valve of a patient comprising:
- a support structure with a diameter, wherein the support structure is foldable to a smaller diameter, the support structure comprising a plurality of crossbar frames, wherein each crossbar frame has a plurality of crossbars connected at an end of each crossbar;
a flexible tissue heart valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets attached to said support structure; and
a plurality of slidable ring connectors, wherein at least one slidable ring connector encircles a first crossbar from a first crossbar frame and a second crossbar from a second crossbar frame, said at least one slidable ring connector configured to coupling the first and the second crossbars.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A percutaneously deliverable heart valve prosthesis and method of delivery, wherein the prosthesis is anchored to a valvular annulus of a patient and used to replace the patient'"'"'s diseased valve. The prosthesis is supported by a rigid frame that is generally fixed, but capable of being modified between a first collapsed position and a second expanded position. In its first collapsed position, the prosthesis has sufficient flexibility and is of such a low profile that it allows for easy percutaneously delivery. Upon proper delivery, the prosthesis is anchored and modifiable to a generally permanent expanded position sufficiently rigid to resist the strong recoil force exerted by a distorted stenosed valve orifice displaced by the prosthesis.
695 Citations
54 Claims
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1. A foldable heart valve prosthesis to replace a diseased valve of a patient comprising:
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a support structure with a diameter, wherein the support structure is foldable to a smaller diameter, the support structure comprising a plurality of crossbar frames, wherein each crossbar frame has a plurality of crossbars connected at an end of each crossbar;
a flexible tissue heart valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets attached to said support structure; and
a plurality of slidable ring connectors, wherein at least one slidable ring connector encircles a first crossbar from a first crossbar frame and a second crossbar from a second crossbar frame, said at least one slidable ring connector configured to coupling the first and the second crossbars. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for minimally invasively delivering a foldable heart valve prosthesis into a patient, the foldable heart valve prosthesis comprising a support structure with a diameter, wherein the support structure is foldable to a smaller diameter, the support structure comprising a plurality of crossbar frames, wherein each crossbar frame has a plurality of crossbars;
- a flexible tissue heart valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets attached to said support structure; and
a plurality of slidable ring connectors, wherein at least one slidable ring connector encircles a first crossbar from a first crossbar frame and a second crossbar from a second crossbar frame, said at least one slidable ring connector configured to coupling the first and the second crossbars;said method comprising;
folding said support structure with the attached flexible tissue heart valve inside a lumen of a delivery apparatus;
delivering said delivery apparatus to a target valvular annulus of the patient;
unfolding said support structure to deploy said foldable heart valve prosthesis in place; and
coupling the first and second crossbars by sliding the at least one slidable ring connector to an appropriate location of the first and second crossbars. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
- a flexible tissue heart valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets attached to said support structure; and
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47. A method for minimally invasively delivering a foldable heart valve into a patient, the foldable heart valve comprising a support structure having a plurality of crossbars and a plurality of slidable ring connectors;
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said method comprising;
folding said valve within a lumen of a delivery means for delivering said valve to a target valvular annulus of the patient;
unfolding said valve in place by a balloon catheter, wherein a differentially expandable balloon of the balloon catheter is configured to expand the folded heart valve into an oval unfolded valve; and
coupling the plurality of crossbars by sliding at least one of the plurality of slidable ring connectors to an appropriate location of the plurality of crossbars. - View Dependent Claims (48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification