Implanting a stent valve prosthesis at the native aortic valve
First Claim
1. A method of replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart with a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent having a substantially circular cross-sectional profile and a flexible valvular structure sewn to the stent, the valvular structure having open and closed positions configured to allow one way flow through the stent, the valvular structure comprising pericardial tissue, the stent comprising intercrossing bars which form zig-zag lines along upper and lower extremities of the stent, the stent constructed to be radially compressible from an expanded size configured for placement within the stenotic native aortic valve to a compressed size having a diameter configured for advancement through a femoral artery leading to the stenotic native aortic valve, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the upper and lower extremities of the stent when the valvular structure is in the closed position, the method comprising:
- advancing a guide wire through a femoral artery and through an aorta toward a stenotic native aortic valve in a human, heart, the native aortic valve having three valvular leaflets;
advancing a distal end portion of a first catheter over the guide wire and through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that an expandable balloon disposed along the distal end portion is positioned within the stenotic native aortic valve;
dilating the stenotic native aortic valve by expanding the expandable balloon to push aside the valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve;
deflating the expandable balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the first catheter from the human heart;
advancing a distal end portion of a second catheter over the guide wire, together with the prosthetic valve disposed along the distal end portion, through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that the prosthetic valve is positioned within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve, the stent being in the compressed size from the expanded size during the advancement; and
radially re-expanding the stent, together with the valvular structure, within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve such that the stent intercrossing bars engage each of the three valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve for maintaining the stenotic native aortic valve in the dilated condition and wherein the valvular structure of the prosthetic valve replaces the valvular function of the stenotic native aortic valve and wherein an internal cover contacts an interior surface of the stent between the lower extremity of the stent and the valvular structure, the internal cover being sewn to the stent and adapted for preventing the passage of blood through spaces between the intercrossing bars of the stent, and wherein the entire aortic valve replacement method is performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve prosthesis which is especially useful in the case of aortic stenosis and capable of resisting the powerful recoil force and to stand the forceful balloon inflation performed to deploy the valve and to embed it in the stenotic aortic annulus, comprises a collapsible valvular structure and an expandable frame on which said valvular structure is mounted. The valvular structure is composed of physiologically compatible valvular tissue that is sufficiently supple and resistant to allow the valvular structure to be deformed from a closed state to an opened state. The valvular tissue forms a continuous surface. The valve prosthesis can be delivered percutaneously, surgically, or endoscopically.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart with a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent having a substantially circular cross-sectional profile and a flexible valvular structure sewn to the stent, the valvular structure having open and closed positions configured to allow one way flow through the stent, the valvular structure comprising pericardial tissue, the stent comprising intercrossing bars which form zig-zag lines along upper and lower extremities of the stent, the stent constructed to be radially compressible from an expanded size configured for placement within the stenotic native aortic valve to a compressed size having a diameter configured for advancement through a femoral artery leading to the stenotic native aortic valve, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the upper and lower extremities of the stent when the valvular structure is in the closed position, the method comprising:
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advancing a guide wire through a femoral artery and through an aorta toward a stenotic native aortic valve in a human, heart, the native aortic valve having three valvular leaflets; advancing a distal end portion of a first catheter over the guide wire and through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that an expandable balloon disposed along the distal end portion is positioned within the stenotic native aortic valve; dilating the stenotic native aortic valve by expanding the expandable balloon to push aside the valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve; deflating the expandable balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the first catheter from the human heart; advancing a distal end portion of a second catheter over the guide wire, together with the prosthetic valve disposed along the distal end portion, through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that the prosthetic valve is positioned within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve, the stent being in the compressed size from the expanded size during the advancement; and radially re-expanding the stent, together with the valvular structure, within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve such that the stent intercrossing bars engage each of the three valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve for maintaining the stenotic native aortic valve in the dilated condition and wherein the valvular structure of the prosthetic valve replaces the valvular function of the stenotic native aortic valve and wherein an internal cover contacts an interior surface of the stent between the lower extremity of the stent and the valvular structure, the internal cover being sewn to the stent and adapted for preventing the passage of blood through spaces between the intercrossing bars of the stent, and wherein the entire aortic valve replacement method is performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart with a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent having an inlet end and an outlet end and a flexible valvular structure fixed to the stent and an internal cover fastened to an internal surface of the stent between the inlet end and the valvular structure, the stent having a substantially circular cross sectional profile and formed with a plurality of intercrossing bars forming zig-zag lines along the inlet and outlet ends of the stent, the valvular structure comprising pericardial tissue and having open and closed positions configured to allow one way flow through the stent, the internal cover comprising pericardial tissue, the stent being radially compressible from a size that is capable of replacing the stenotic native aortic valve to a smaller size having a diameter of about 5 millimeters and suitable for entry into the heart through a thoracotomy, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the inlet end and the outlet end when the valvular structure is in the closed position, the method comprising:
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performing a thoracotomy to surgically access a stenotic native aortic heart valve in a human heart, the native aortic valve having three valvular leaflets; advancing a distal end portion of a first cannula into the human heart through the thoracotomy such that an expandable balloon disposed along the distal end portion is positioned within the native aortic valve; dilating the native aortic valve by expanding the expandable balloon to push aside the valvular leaflets of the native aortic valve; deflating the expandable balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the first cannula from the human heart; advancing a distal end portion of a second cannula, together with the prosthetic valve disposed along the distal end portion, into the human heart through the thoracotomy such that the prosthetic valve is positioned within the dilated native aortic valve, the stent being in its radially compressed size from its radially expanded size during the advancement; radially re-expanding the stent, together with the valvular structure and the internal cover, within the dilated native aortic valve, wherein the stent of the expanded prosthetic valve engages each of the three valvular leaflets of the native aortic valve and thereby maintains the aortic valve in the dilated condition and wherein the valvular structure replaces the valvular function of the native aortic valve and wherein the internal cover prevents the passage of blood through spaces between the intercrossing bars of the stent, thereby preventing blood from leaking back into the left ventricle during diastole; and withdrawing the second cannula from the human heart and closing the thoracotomy; wherein the entire method is performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass.
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Specification