Stentless support structure

• US 9,439,761 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• 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 P., Banick, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHIPMON, TIFFANY P
• Application Number:
  US13/834,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20130204357A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,278 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.26, 623/1.51, 623/1.53, 623/2.18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• 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 2230/0067 conical

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 method of delivering a support structure comprising:

positioning a support structure within a target location with a delivery device;

folding a portion of said support structure into itself as said portion is being ejected from said delivery device;

wherein said folding is at least partially effected by acting on a distal portion of said support structure with a pull wire while pushing on a proximal portion.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein folding said support structure into itself comprises folding said distal portion into said proximal portion.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning said support structure within a target location comprises navigating a catheter containing said support structure through the apex of a heart, through the left ventricle and positioning a distal end of the catheter within or near the aortic valve of the heart.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning said support structure within a target location comprises pushing said distal portion out of a delivery catheter distal of said target location.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein folding said support structure into itself comprises folding said distal portion into said proximal portion, said proximal portion being located at said target location.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein positioning said support structure within a target location comprises sliding a delivery catheter containing said support structure over a guidewire leading to said target location.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said folding said support structure into itself is at least partially effected by a preformed fold formed in said support structure.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said acting on a distal portion of said support structure with a pull wire while pushing on a proximal portion comprises preventing proximal movement of said support structure with a catheter while pulling proximally with said pull wire.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein acting on a distal portion of said support structure with a pull wire comprises acting on a distal portion of said support structure with a pull wire that passes through at least a portion of said support structure.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising releasing said support structure.