Mitral valve system
First Claim
1. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
- a. a resilient ring;
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 proximal tissue engaging region including a first elongate tissue-piercing element, a distal tissue engaging region spaced apart from the proximal tissue engaging region along a direction of blood flow through the valve prosthesis and including a second elongate tissue-piercing element, and an intermediate tissue engaging region disposed between the proximal and distal tissue engaging region and including a third elongate tissue-piercing element;
wherein the proximal, distal, and intermediate tissue-engaging regions are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure so as to stabilize a position of the valve prosthesis with respect to the anatomical structure, including wherein for purposes of so simultaneously engaging the separate corresponding areas of tissue, at least one of the first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements is pointed at least partially opposite the direction of blood flow, and at least another thereof is pointed at least partially along the direction of blood flow; and
wherein at least one of the proximal and distal tissue engaging regions further defines an arcuate surface for engaging the corresponding area of tissue so as to limit a depth to which the respective first or third elongate tissue-piercing element may become lodged therewithin.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
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 transcatheter techniques. 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 defines respective proximal, intermediate, and distal tissue engaging regions cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure, including respective first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements. The proximal, distal, and intermediate tissue-engaging regions are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure so as to stabilize a position of the valve prosthesis with respect to the anatomical structure, including wherein for purposes of so simultaneously engaging the separate corresponding areas of tissue, at least one of the first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements is pointed at least partially opposite the direction of blood flow, and at least another thereof is pointed at least partially along the direction of blood flow. The valve prosthesis may also include a skirt mounted with respect to the resilient ring for sealing a periphery of the valve prosthesis against a reverse flow of blood around the valve prosthesis.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A valve prosthesis, comprising:
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a. a resilient ring; 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 proximal tissue engaging region including a first elongate tissue-piercing element, a distal tissue engaging region spaced apart from the proximal tissue engaging region along a direction of blood flow through the valve prosthesis and including a second elongate tissue-piercing element, and an intermediate tissue engaging region disposed between the proximal and distal tissue engaging region and including a third elongate tissue-piercing element; wherein the proximal, distal, and intermediate tissue-engaging regions are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure so as to stabilize a position of the valve prosthesis with respect to the anatomical structure, including wherein for purposes of so simultaneously engaging the separate corresponding areas of tissue, at least one of the first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements is pointed at least partially opposite the direction of blood flow, and at least another thereof is pointed at least partially along the direction of blood flow; and wherein at least one of the proximal and distal tissue engaging regions further defines an arcuate surface for engaging the corresponding area of tissue so as to limit a depth to which the respective first or third elongate tissue-piercing element may become lodged therewithin. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A valve prosthesis comprising:
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a. a resilient ring; 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 proximal tissue engaging region including a first elongate tissue-piercing element, a distal tissue engaging region spaced apart from the proximal tissue engaging region along a direction of blood flow through the valve prosthesis and including a second elongate tissue-piercing element, and an intermediate tissue engaging region disposed between the proximal and distal tissue engaging region and including a third elongate tissue-piercing element; wherein the proximal, distal, and intermediate tissue-engaging regions are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure so as to stabilize a position of the valve prosthesis with respect to the anatomical structure, including wherein for purposes of so simultaneously engaging the separate corresponding areas of tissue, at least one of the first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements is pointed at least partially opposite the direction of blood flow, and at least another thereof is pointed at least partially along the direction of blood flow; a hub disposed substantially centrally with respect to a peripheral geometry of the resilient ring, and a plurality of legs directed radially with respect to the resilient ring and mounted with respect to (i) the hub and (ii) a corresponding positioning element of the plurality thereof. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A valve prosthesis comprising:
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a. a resilient ring; 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 proximal tissue engaging region including a first elongate tissue-piercing element, a distal tissue engaging region spaced apart from the proximal tissue engaging region along a direction of blood flow through the valve prosthesis and including a second elongate tissue-piercing element, and an intermediate tissue engaging region disposed between the proximal and distal tissue engaging region and including a third elongate tissue-piercing element; wherein the proximal, distal, and intermediate tissue-engaging regions are cooperatively configured and dimensioned to simultaneously engage separate corresponding areas of the tissue of an anatomical structure so as to stabilize a position of the valve prosthesis with respect to the anatomical structure, including wherein for purposes of so simultaneously engaging the separate corresponding areas of tissue, at least one of the first, second, and third elongate tissue-piercing elements is pointed at least partially opposite the direction of blood flow, and at least another thereof is pointed at least partially along the direction of blood flow; and wherein each positioning element of the plurality thereof includes a pair of apertures for permitting the positioning element to be releasably engaged by a corresponding filament looped through the apertures of the pair thereof for remotely controlling a rotational position of the positioning element during implantation of the valve prosthesis.
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Specification