Cardiac valve procedure methods and devices

• US 9,101,470 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2005
• Issued: 08/11/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Lambrecht, Gregory H., Liddicoat, John, Moore, Robert Kevin
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US11/115,064
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,759 Days
• Field of Search: 600/200, 623/1.26
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

The present invention discloses devices and methods for performing intravascular procedures without cardiac bypass. The devices include various embodiments of temporary filter devices, temporary valves, and prosthetic valves.

The temporary filter devices have one or more cannulae which provide access for surgical tools for effecting repair of the cardiac valves. A cannula may have filters of various configurations encircling the distal region of the cannula, which prevent embolitic material from entering the coronary arteries and aorta.

The temporary valve devices may also have one or more cannulae which guide the insertion of the valve into the aorta. The valve devices expand in the aorta to occupy the entire flow path of the vessel. In one embodiment, the temporary valve is a disc of flexible, porous, material that acts to filter blood passing therethrough. A set of valve leaflets extend peripherally from the disc. These leaflets can alternately collapse to prevent blood flow through the valve and extend to permit flow.

The prosthetic valves include valve fixation devices which secure the prosthetic valve to the wall of the vessel. In one embodiment, the prosthetic valves have at least one substantially rigid strut, at least two expandable fixation rings located about the circumference of the base of the apex of the valve, and one or more commissures and leaflets. The prosthetic valves are introduced into the vascular system a compressed state, advanced to the site of implantation, expanded and secured to the vessel wall.

Claims

1. A method for performing an operation on a cardiac valve of a heart while the heart is beating, comprising the steps of:

a) placing at least one temporary valve in a flow path of a blood vessel downstream from said cardiac valve, said temporary valve being operative to effect greater antegrade flow than retrograde flow through said vessel;

b) placing at least one temporary filter in said flowpath downstream from said cardiac valve and within one of the ascending aortia and aortic arch of a patient, said filter being operative to restrict the passage of emboli while allowing blood to flow through said vessel; and

c) resecting at least a portion of the cardiac valve with the temporary valve and temporary filter as positioned within said flowpath.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the temporary filter is positioned within the ascending aorta between the coronary arteries and brachiocephalic artery.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the temporary valve and temporary filter are provided as a combination device.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the temporary valve is provided as an independent device from the temporary filter.