Apparatus and method for implanting collapsible/expandable prosthetic heart valves

• US 9,554,905 B2
• Filed: 06/23/2014
• Issued: 01/31/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Alkhatib, Yousef F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): DANG, PHONG SON H
• Application Number:
  US14/311,957
• Publication Number:
  US 20140303722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/013 Distal protection devices, i.e. devices placed distally in combination with another endovascular procedure, e.g. angioplasty or stenting
• 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 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9517 handle assemblies therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/016 made from wire-like elements
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/018 made from tubes or sheets of material, e.g. by etching or laser-cutting
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0093 Umbrella-shaped, e.g. mushroom-shaped

Abstract

Apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient by means that are less invasive than conventional open-chest, open-heart surgery. The prosthetic valve may be collapsed while in a delivery device. When the valve reaches the desired implant site in the patient, the valve can be released from the delivery device, which allows the valve to re-expand to the configuration in which it can function as a heart valve. For example, the delivery device may be constructed to facilitate delivery of the prosthetic valve into the patient via the apex of the patient'"'"'s heart.

Claims

1. Apparatus for delivering a prosthetic heart valve into a patient, comprising:

a longitudinal outer shaft extending from a proximal portion of the apparatus to a distal portion of the apparatus, the outer shaft having a longitudinal axis and a fixed position relative to the proximal portion of the apparatus;

a longitudinal inner shaft disposed inside the outer shaft, the inner shaft being longitudinally movable relative to the outer shaft;

a tip structure mounted on a distal portion of the inner shaft for substantially closing a distal end of the outer shaft when the inner shaft is pulled proximally back relative to the outer shaft;

a control wheel rotatable relative to the inner shaft and operable to move the inner shaft longitudinally relative to the outer shaft while the outer shaft remains in the fixed position, the control wheel having a circumference; and

a prosthetic heart valve disposed around the inner shaft proximal of the tip structure and inside a distal portion of the outer shaft, the prosthetic valve being releasable from the apparatus when the tip structure is moved distally away from the distal end of the outer shaft and the prosthetic valve is shifted distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a handle attached to a proximal portion of the outer shaft.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control wheel is rotatably mounted within the handle so that a portion of the control wheel comprising less than the entire circumference of the control wheel protrudes from the handle.

4. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control wheel has an axis of rotation, the axis of rotation being disposed laterally of the longitudinal axis of the outer shaft.

5. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control wheel has an axis of rotation which intersects the longitudinal axis of the outer shaft.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the handle has a top side with a first aperture and the portion of the control wheel protrudes through the first aperture.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the handle has a bottom side with a second aperture, and the portion of the control wheel protrudes through the first aperture and the second aperture.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner shaft includes a rack extending along a length thereof, and the control wheel includes a spur gear engaged with the rack so that rotation of the control wheel causes longitudinal movement of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spur gear remains in contact with the rack during the longitudinal movement of the inner shaft relative to the outer shaft at least until the prosthetic valve is shifted distally beyond the distal end of the outer shaft.