Valve prosthesis systems and methods
First Claim
1. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
- a. a resilient ring defining an annular opening;
b. a plurality of leaflet membranes mounted with respect to the resilient ring; and
c. a plurality of positioning elements movably mounted with respect to the resilient ring, each of the positioning elements defining a first tissue engaging region, a connecting region, and a second tissue engaging region spaced from the first tissue engaging region, wherein the connecting region connects the first and second tissue engaging regions;
wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating relative to the resilient ring between a first position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is inwardly directed towards the annular opening for facilitating positioning of the valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter, and a second position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is outwardly directed towards an anatomical wall for engaging tissue; and
wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating in a first direction away from the first position and toward and into the second position to define an inversion plane.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Valve prostheses are disclosed that are adapted for secure and aligned placement relative to a heart annulus. The valve prostheses may be placed in a non-invasive manner, e.g., via trans-catheter techniques, and may be positioned/repositioned until proper alignment and positioning is achieved. The valve prosthesis may include a resilient ring, a plurality of leaflet membranes mounted with respect to the resilient ring, and a plurality of positioning elements movably mounted with respect to the flexible ring, each of the positioning elements defining a first tissue engaging region and a second tissue engaging region spaced from the first tissue engaging region. The positioning elements are adapted to substantially completely invert by rotating relative to the resilient ring between a first position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is inwardly directed for facilitating positioning of the valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter, and a second position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is outwardly directed for engaging tissue. The valve prosthesis may also include a valve skirt mounted with respect to the resilient ring.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
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a. a resilient ring defining an annular opening; b. a plurality of leaflet membranes mounted with respect to the resilient ring; and c. a plurality of positioning elements movably mounted with respect to the resilient ring, each of the positioning elements defining a first tissue engaging region, a connecting region, and a second tissue engaging region spaced from the first tissue engaging region, wherein the connecting region connects the first and second tissue engaging regions; wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating relative to the resilient ring between a first position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is inwardly directed towards the annular opening for facilitating positioning of the valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter, and a second position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is outwardly directed towards an anatomical wall for engaging tissue; and wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating in a first direction away from the first position and toward and into the second position to define an inversion plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
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a. a resilient ring defining an annular opening; b. a plurality of leaflet membranes mounted with respect to the resilient ring; and c. a plurality of positioning elements movably mounted with respect to the resilient ring, each of the positioning elements defining a first tissue engaging region, a connecting region, and a second tissue engaging region spaced from the first tissue engaging region, wherein the connecting region connects the first and second tissue engaging regions; wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating relative to the resilient ring between a first position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is inwardly directed towards the annular opening for facilitating positioning of the valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter, and a second position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is outwardly directed towards an anatomical wall for engaging tissue; and wherein each positioning element of the plurality thereof is inverted at least in part by rotating outward and away from the first position, and toward and into the second position, in an overturning motion with respect to the resilient ring. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
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a. a resilient ring defining an annular opening; b. a plurality of leaflet membranes mounted with respect to the resilient ring; and c. a plurality of positioning elements movably mounted with respect to the resilient ring, each of the positioning elements defining a first tissue engaging region, a connecting region, and a second tissue engaging region spaced from the first tissue engaging region, wherein the connecting region connects the first and second tissue engaging regions; wherein each positioning element of the plurality of positioning elements is inverted by rotating relative to the resilient ring between a first position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is inwardly directed towards the annular opening for facilitating positioning of the valve prosthesis within a delivery catheter, and a second position in which each of the first and second tissue engaging regions is outwardly directed towards an anatomical wall for engaging tissue; and wherein at least the resilient ring and each positioning element of the plurality thereof are adapted to be collapsed to an extent sufficient to permit the same to be lodged together in a catheter lumen of 26 French or less.
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Specification