Repositionable endoluminal support structure and its applications

• US 9,364,323 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2011
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: White, Jennifer K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Howie
• Application Number:
  US13/113,890
• Publication Number:
  US 20110224781A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,849 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.11, 623 115- 116, 623 124- 126, 623 21- 219, 623/2.38
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• 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 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2421 with non-pivoting rigid closure members
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/243 Deployment by mechanical expansion
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2469 with resilient valve members, e.g. conical spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/82 Devices providing patency to, or preventing collapsing of, tubular structures of the body, e.g. stents stent-grafts for tubular structures of the body other than blood vessels A61F2/04; stent-grafts for blood vessels A61F2/07; instruments specially adapted for placement or removal of stents or stent-grafts A61F2/95; for closing wounds, or holding wounds closed A61B17/04 - A61B17/115; dilators A61M29/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/94 Stents retaining their form, i.e. not being deformable, after placement in the predetermined place
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0076 multilayered, e.g. laminated structures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0041 using additional screws, bolts, dowels or rivets, e.g. connecting screws
• 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 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/001 for adjusting a diameter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An endoluminal support structure includes strut members interconnected by swivel joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

Claims

1. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

inserting a valve into a patient;

positioning the valve at an implantation site in the patient; and

applying a first rotational force in a first direction to a threaded elongate member of an adjustment mechanism of the valve, such that the adjustment mechanism applies axial forces to the valve to radially expand the valve at the implantation site, wherein the threaded elongate member is positioned on the valve.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising applying a second rotational force in a second direction to the threaded elongate member of the adjustment mechanism to at least partially collapse the valve.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising repositioning the at least partially collapsed valve with respect to the implantation site.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising applying a third rotational force in the first direction to the threaded elongate member of the adjustment mechanism to reexpand the valve at the implantation site.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve comprises a plurality of interlinked strut members, each strut member having an upper end and a lower end, and wherein the axial forces are applied to two axially opposing pairs of the upper and lower ends.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve is inserted into the patient using a catheter.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the first rotational force is applied using the catheter.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the valve is inserted into the patient transseptally.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the valve is inserted into the patient in a retrograde direction along the aorta.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the valve is inserted into the patient transapically.

11. A method for treating a patient, comprising:

positioning a valve at an implantation site in a patient, wherein the valve comprises a compressed configuration with a first diameter, an expanded configuration with a second diameter, a central axis and a plurality of interlinked strut members, wherein each strut member comprises an upper end and a lower end, and wherein the valve is configured to lock at any diameter between the first diameter and the second diameter; and

incrementally expanding the valve, comprising applying first forces to two axially opposing pairs of the upper and lower ends.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein expanding the valve further comprises applying a second force in a first direction to an adjustment mechanism of the valve, wherein the second force is a rotational force.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a third force in a second direction to the adjustment mechanism to at least partially collapse the valve, wherein the third force is a rotational force.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising repositioning the at least partially collapsed valve with respect to the implantation site.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising applying a fourth force in the first direction to the adjustment mechanism to reexpand the valve at the implantation site, wherein the fourth force is a rotational force.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the adjustment mechanism applies the first forces, and wherein the first forces are parallel to the central axis.