Heart valve delivery system with valve catheter
First Claim
1. A system for treating a native valve in a human heart, comprising:
- a self-expandable prosthetic valve including an expandable frame and a valvular structure;
a tubular sleeve defining a passageway extending therethrough;
a valve catheter configured for slidable advancement through the passageway of the tubular sleeve;
a plurality of flexible extension arms secured to a distal end portion of the valve catheter, each flexible extension arm extending distally from the valve catheter, and each flexible extension arm comprising a distal end for engaging only a proximal end portion of the prosthetic valve, the flexible extension arms configured to stabilize the prosthetic valve during expansion at a treatment site, the distal end of each flexible extension arm comprising at least one opening extending transversely therethrough;
a plurality of wires slidably disposed in the valve catheter, each wire comprising a proximal end and a distal end;
at least one suture, a loop of which extends through the at least one opening in the flexible extension arm and around the distal end of a corresponding wire when securing the proximal end of the prosthetic valve to the flexible extension arms, and released from the distal end of the wire when releasing the proximal end of the prosthetic valve from the flexible extension arms; and
an actuation mechanism disposed along a proximal end portion of the valve catheter, the actuation mechanism coupled to the proximal ends of the plurality of wires and configured to slide the wires proximally within the valve catheter, thereby detaching the suture from the prosthetic valve while the suture remains intact, thereby releasing the prosthetic valve from the flexible extension arms.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heart valve delivery system is provided wherein a prosthetic valve is carried on a valve catheter inside a delivery sleeve. A step balloon protrudes from the delivery sleeve and provides a tapered surface for facilitating advancement through a body vessel. The step balloon also aids in crossing the leaflets of a native valve. After the prosthetic valve is positioned within the native valve, the delivery sleeve is retracted to expose the prosthetic valve. In one embodiment, the delivery sleeve is retracted by the use of a lead screw, which effectuates relative movement between the valve catheter and delivery sleeve. The prosthetic valve is preferably self-expandable. If necessary, the step balloon may be expanded to securely seat the prosthetic valve at the site of the native valve. The prosthetic valve is preferably coupled to the valve catheter by a plurality of flexible extension arms which allow the prosthetic valve to be collapsed after initial deployment such that the prosthetic valve may be repositioned if necessary.
655 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for treating a native valve in a human heart, comprising:
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a self-expandable prosthetic valve including an expandable frame and a valvular structure; a tubular sleeve defining a passageway extending therethrough; a valve catheter configured for slidable advancement through the passageway of the tubular sleeve; a plurality of flexible extension arms secured to a distal end portion of the valve catheter, each flexible extension arm extending distally from the valve catheter, and each flexible extension arm comprising a distal end for engaging only a proximal end portion of the prosthetic valve, the flexible extension arms configured to stabilize the prosthetic valve during expansion at a treatment site, the distal end of each flexible extension arm comprising at least one opening extending transversely therethrough; a plurality of wires slidably disposed in the valve catheter, each wire comprising a proximal end and a distal end; at least one suture, a loop of which extends through the at least one opening in the flexible extension arm and around the distal end of a corresponding wire when securing the proximal end of the prosthetic valve to the flexible extension arms, and released from the distal end of the wire when releasing the proximal end of the prosthetic valve from the flexible extension arms; and an actuation mechanism disposed along a proximal end portion of the valve catheter, the actuation mechanism coupled to the proximal ends of the plurality of wires and configured to slide the wires proximally within the valve catheter, thereby detaching the suture from the prosthetic valve while the suture remains intact, thereby releasing the prosthetic valve from the flexible extension arms. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for treating a native valve in a human heart, comprising:
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an expandable prosthetic valve including an expandable frame and a valvular structure; a tubular sleeve defining a passageway extending therethrough; a valve catheter configured for slidable advancement through the passageway of the tubular sleeve; a plurality of flexible extension arms disposed along a distal end portion of the valve catheter, each flexible extension arm extending distally from the valve catheter, each flexible extension arm comprising a distal end that engages a proximal end portion of the prosthetic valve, the distal end of each flexible extension arm comprising a pair of openings extending transversely therethrough; at least one suture, loops of which extend through the pair of openings of the each flexible extension arm when securing the prosthetic valve to the flexible extension arms; and an actuation mechanism disposed along a proximal end portion of the valve catheter, the actuation mechanism configured to detach the suture from the prosthetic valve, thereby releasing the prosthetic valve from the flexible extension arms, wherein the actuation mechanism comprises at least one slidable member positioned between the suture and the valve, wherein when the slidable member is slid relative to the valve, the suture detaches from the prosthetic valve. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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Specification