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Methods and apparatuses for deploying minimally-invasive heart valves

  • US 8,740,975 B2
  • Filed: 06/19/2009
  • Issued: 06/03/2014
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2001
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve comprising:

  • providing a prosthetic heart valve comprising a radially self-expandable valve body made of a nickel-titanium alloy and leaflets made from pericardium, each leaflet comprising a curvilinear edge sutured to the valve body;

    securing the heart valve to a plurality of deployment members disposed on a distal end portion of an elongate catheter, the deployment members protruding radially outward through a plurality of rectangular openings along a proximal end portion of the valve body;

    introducing the distal end portion of the catheter and heart valve secured thereto into a patient'"'"'s body with the valve body in a radially compressed state, the distal end portion of the catheter comprising a nose that facilitates introduction into and passage through a vascular system;

    allowing the valve body to self-expand from the radially compressed state to an initial expanded state while the valve body is positioned at least partially within a native heart valve annulus;

    moving a balloon from a position outside of the valve body to a position inside the valve body after allowing the valve body to self-expand; and

    inflating the balloon inside the valve body to further expand the valve body from the initial expanded state to a final expanded state after detaching the heart valve from the plurality of deployment members.

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