Method of implanting a minimally-invasive heart valve with cusp positioners
First Claim
1. A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve within a native aortic valve, comprising:
- providing a collapsible prosthetic heart valve having a collapsible leaflet frame defined by three cusp regions on an inflow end of the valve intermediate three commissure regions on an outflow end of the valve, the valve further including three cusp positioners on the outflow end and intermediate the three commissure regions the leaflet frame and cusp positioners integrally formed, the valve further including three leaflets sutured to the leaflet frame;
collapsing the prosthetic heart valve within a delivery tube;
advancing the prosthetic heart valve within the delivery tube to an aortic annulus;
expelling the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery tube by relative movement therebetween;
expanding the prosthetic heart valve;
positioning the prosthetic heart valve such that the cusp positioners contact a wall of each of three aortic sinus cavities of an ascending aorta without blocking the coronary ostia arising from two of the aortic sinus cavities; and
connecting a holder having flexible members to the commissure regions of the prosthetic heart valve and utilizing the flexible members to perform the step of positioning the prosthetic heart valve.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic heart valve having an internal support frame with a continuous, undulating leaflet frame defined therein. The leaflet frame has three cusp regions positioned at an inflow end intermediate three commissure regions positioned at an outflow end thereof. The leaflet frame may be cloth covered and flexible leaflets attached thereto form occluding surfaces of the valve. The support frame further includes three cusp positioners rigidly fixed with respect to the leaflet frame and located at the outflow end of the support frame intermediate each pair of adjacent commissure regions. The valve is desirably compressible so as to be delivered in a minimally invasive manner through a catheter to the site of implantation. Upon expulsion from catheter, the valve expands into contact with the surrounding native valve annulus and is anchored in place without the use of sutures.
187 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve within a native aortic valve, comprising:
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providing a collapsible prosthetic heart valve having a collapsible leaflet frame defined by three cusp regions on an inflow end of the valve intermediate three commissure regions on an outflow end of the valve, the valve further including three cusp positioners on the outflow end and intermediate the three commissure regions the leaflet frame and cusp positioners integrally formed, the valve further including three leaflets sutured to the leaflet frame; collapsing the prosthetic heart valve within a delivery tube; advancing the prosthetic heart valve within the delivery tube to an aortic annulus; expelling the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery tube by relative movement therebetween; expanding the prosthetic heart valve; positioning the prosthetic heart valve such that the cusp positioners contact a wall of each of three aortic sinus cavities of an ascending aorta without blocking the coronary ostia arising from two of the aortic sinus cavities; and connecting a holder having flexible members to the commissure regions of the prosthetic heart valve and utilizing the flexible members to perform the step of positioning the prosthetic heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve within a native aortic valve, comprising:
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providing a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve comprised of a material displaying hysteresis in the elastic or superelastic region, the prosthetic heart valve further comprising a collapsible leaflet frame defined by three cusp regions on an inflow end of the prosthetic heart valve intermediate three commissures on an outflow end of the prosthetic heart valve, the prosthetic heart valve further including three cusp positioners on the outflow end and intermediate the three commissures, the leaflet frame and cusp positioners integrally formed; collapsing the prosthetic heart valve within a delivery tube; advancing the prosthetic heart valve within the delivery tube to an aortic annulus; expelling the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery tube by relative movement therebetween; permitting the prosthetic heart valve to self-expand to a first diameter; assisting the prosthetic heart valve with a physical expander to further expand to a second diameter; positioning the prosthetic heart valve such that the cusp positioners contact a wall of each of three aortic sinus cavities of an ascending aorta without blocking the coronary ostia arising from two of the aortic sinus cavities; and connecting a holder having flexible members to the commissures of the prosthetic heart valve and utilizing the flexible members to perform the step of positioning the prosthetic heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification