Stentless support structure

• US 9,271,831 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: HLT, Inc. (Bracco SPA)
• Inventors: Thill, Gary A., Wilson, Robert Foster, Gainor, John, Banick, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIPMON, TIFFANY P
• Application Number:
  US13/192,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20110282439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.24, 623/1.26, 623/1.51, 623/1.53, 623/2.18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/95 Instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0025 Connections or couplings between prosthetic parts, e.g. between modular parts; Connecting elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/001 Figure-8-shaped, e.g. hourglass-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0067 conical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A stentless support structure capable of being at least partly assembled in situ. The support structure comprises a braided tube that is very flexible and, when elongated, becomes very long and very small in diameter, thereby being capable of placement within a small diameter catheter. The support structure is preferably constructed of one or more thin strands of a super-elastic or shape memory material such as Nitinol. When released from the catheter, the support structure folds itself into a longitudinally compact configuration. The support structure thus gains significant strength as the number of folds increase. This radial strength obviates the need for a support stent. The support structure may include attachment points for a prosthetic valve.

Claims

1. A stentless support structure comprising:

at least one strand braided to form a tubular structure having a first configuration and a second configuration;

whereby in the first configuration, the tubular structure includes;

a first end and a second end;

an elongate body between the first end and the second end and having a distal portion near the first end, and a proximal portion near the second end, the distal portion separated from the proximal portion by a preformed fold that is unfolded in the first configuration;

whereby in the second configuration, the preformed fold becomes folded and causes the proximal portion to invert into a lumen of the distal portion, thereby creating a section of the body having more than one ply;

whereby the first configuration is maintained when the support structure is constrained within a catheter and the support structure tends to assume the second configuration when unconstrained.

2. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said preformed fold reduces a length of the body in the second configuration.

3. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said tubular structure comprises a single ply in the first configuration.

4. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said tubular structure comprises a multi-ply section in the second configuration.

5. The stentless support structure of claim 4 further comprising a lining sandwiched between said first and second ply.

6. The stentless support structure of claim 1 whereby, in the first configuration, said stentless support structure is capable of being housed with a lumen of a 20Fr catheter.

7. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said second end comprises a folded end.

8. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said plurality of strands braided together to form a tubular structure comprises a plurality of strands of a first diameter and at least one fiber of a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

9. The stentless support structure of claim 1 wherein said first end comprises a wire form having a plurality of commissural attachment points.

10. The stentless support structure of claim 1 further comprising a lining in an inner wall of the tubular structure.