Method of dilating a stenotic aortic valve and implanting a prosthetic valve

• US 8,591,575 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Issued: 11/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Private Incorporated (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Private Incorporated (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Cribier, Alain
• Primary Examiner(s): PELLEGRINO, BRIAN E
• Application Number:
  US11/692,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20080009940A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,435 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.26, 623/2.1, 623/2.11, 623 212- 219, 623/1.24, 623/900, 623/904, 606/108, 606/191, 606/192, 606/194, 606/198, 600/36
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/90 Stent for heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

A method for treating a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart is provided. The method comprises dilating the stenotic native aortic valve using a dilatation catheter and then deploying a prosthetic heart valve within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve. The prosthetic heart valve comprises a collapsible and expandable metallic stent and a valvular structure formed of a synthetic biocompatible material. The valvular structure is positioned substantially between the inlet and outlet ends of the stent for preventing the flow of blood in one direction. The prosthetic heart valve may further comprise an internal sleeve for creating a seal along at least a portion of the stent wall.

Claims

1. A method for treating a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart, comprising:

advancing a guidewire through the femoral artery and around the aortic arch in a direction against the flow of blood;

advancing a dilatation catheter over the guidewire, the dilatation catheter having an inflatable balloon disposed along a distal end portion;

dilating the stenotic native aortic valve by inflating the balloon in the native stenotic aortic valve to push aside the valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve;

withdrawing the dilatation catheter over the guidewire;

advancing a delivery catheter over the guidewire, the delivery catheter having a prosthetic heart valve disposed along a distal end portion thereof, the prosthetic heart valve including a collapsible and expandable metallic stent formed with intersecting bars which form zig-zag lines along upper and lower extremities of the stent, the stent having a substantially cylindrical shape when expanded in the native aortic valve and a collapsible and expandable valvular structure fixed to the stent along a coupling line, the valvular structure having open and closed positions for replacing the function of the native aortic valve, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the upper and lower extremities of the stent when in the closed position, the prosthetic heart valve further comprising an internal cover which forms a sleeve covering only a lower portion of the stent, the internal cover sewn to the valvular structure and to the bars of the stent for preventing passage of blood through spaces between the bars of the stent along the lower portion of the stent while blood is permitted to flow through spaces between the bars of the stent along an upper portion of the stent above the internal cover, wherein the spaces between the bars of the stent are covered by the internal cover only along the inner surface of the stent and only along the lower portion of the stent;

radially expanding the prosthetic heart valve in the dilated stenotic native aortic valve such that the intersecting bars of the stent embed into the valvular leaflets of the dilated stenotic native aortic valve;

withdrawing the delivery catheter over the guidewire; and

removing the guidewire.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radial expansion of the prosthetic heart valve is performed by inflating a balloon disposed along the distal end portion of the delivery catheter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the prosthetic valve is introduced into the femoral artery through an introducer.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the introducer is a 18 French introducer.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the introducer is a 16 French introducer.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the introducer is a 14 French introducer.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the valvular structure is formed with a synthetic biocompatible material.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the internal cover is formed with a synthetic biocompatible material.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the synthetic biocompatible material comprises polyethylene.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the synthetic biocompatible material comprises polyamide.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the stenotic native aortic valve is dilated to a diameter of at least about 20 millimeters before radially expanding the prosthetic heart valve.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the stent is viewable under fluoroscopy during radial expansion of the prosthetic heart valve.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein, after radial expansion, the stent of the prosthetic heart valve has a constant diameter with a linear profile.