Heart valve annulus device and method of using same

• US 7,887,583 B2
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: MVRx, Inc.
• Inventors: Macoviak, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stewart; Alvin J
• Application Number:
  US11/104,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216079A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.11, 623 238- 242, 623/2.34, 623 212- 22, 623/1.24, 623/1.26
• US Class Current: 623/2.38
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation

Abstract

A heart valve implant has a body sized and configured to rest near or within a heart valve annulus. A plurality of spaced-apart retainers extend outwardly from the body to contact tissue near or within the heart valve annulus. The retainers are sized and configured to secure the body to the heart valve annulus. The implant can be secured, e.g., without the use of sutures.

Claims

1. A method comprising

providing an implant comprising a body sized and configured to rest near or within a heart valve annulus, a plurality of spaced-apart retainers extending from radially outward a bottom end of the body to contact tissue near or within the heart valve annulus, the retainers being sized and configured to secure the body to the heart valve annulus without use of sutures, the body further including a mounting socket,

providing a first prosthetic valve member having a frame sized and configured to be received within the mounting socket and mechanically coupled to the body within the mounting socket by an anchor mechanism comprising a screw type anchor mechanism, a rail fastener anchor mechanism, or a bayonet style anchor mechanism in a releasable manner permitting removal of the first prosthetic valve member without removal of the body,

introducing the implant into a heart,

securing the body of the implant near or within a heart valve annulus by contact between the retainers and the heart valve annulus without use of sutures,

mechanically coupling the frame of the first prosthetic valve member to the body within the mounting socket using the anchor mechanism,

mechanically decoupling and removing the frame of the first prosthetic valve member from the body without removal of the body,

providing a replacement prosthetic valve member having a frame sized and configured to be received within the mounting socket and mechanically coupled to the body within the mounting socket by an anchor mechanism comprising a screw type anchor mechanism, a rail fastener anchor mechanism, or a bayonet style anchor mechanism in a releasable manner permitting removal of the replacement prosthetic valve member without removal of the body, and

mechanically coupling the frame of the replacement prosthetic valve member to the body within the mounting socket using the anchor mechanism.

2. A method according to claim 1

wherein at least one the retainers comprises a wire-form structure.

3. A method according to claim 1

wherein during the introducing at least one of the retainers is collapsible onto the body.

4. A method according to claim 3

wherein during the introducing at least one of the retainers is deployable between a collapsed condition free of contact with the heart valve annulus and a deployed condition in contact with the heart valve annulus.

5. A method according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers includes a spring-like material.

6. A method according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers includes a shape memory material.

7. A method according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers is curved.