Systems and methods for positioning a heart valve using visual markers
First Claim
1. An assembly for delivering an implantable prosthesis to a target site in a body, the assembly comprising:
- an elongate inner delivery member disposed within an outer shaft, the elongated delivery member including a longitudinal axis; and
a valve retainer connected to the elongate inner delivery member and disposed within the outer shaft during delivery to a target site in the body, wherein the valve retainer has an outer surface, wherein the valve retainer is configured to releasably secure a proximal end of a prosthesis to the elongate inner delivery member during delivery to the target site in a body, andwherein the valve retainer includes a rotational identifier that identifies the rotational orientation of the valve retainer around the longitudinal axis when the valve retainer is positioned proximate to the target site in the body, wherein the rotational identifier is a notch formed in the outer surface of the valve retainer such that the valve retainer is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve retainer is connected to an elongate delivery member. The valve retainer is configured to releasably secure a prosthesis (e.g., a heart valve prosthesis) to the delivery member during delivery to a target site in a body (e.g., a native valve annulus). The valve retainer includes a rotational identifier that identifies the rotational orientation of the valve retainer when the valve retainer is positioned proximate to the target site. A heart valve prosthesis can include a commissural post that has a predetermined rotational position relative to the rotational identifier, such that the heart valve prosthesis can be rotationally aligned with the native commissures of the native valve by rotating the delivery member and the valve retainer until the commissural post is aligned with a native valve commissure and the rotational identifier is visible.
24 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An assembly for delivering an implantable prosthesis to a target site in a body, the assembly comprising:
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an elongate inner delivery member disposed within an outer shaft, the elongated delivery member including a longitudinal axis; and a valve retainer connected to the elongate inner delivery member and disposed within the outer shaft during delivery to a target site in the body, wherein the valve retainer has an outer surface, wherein the valve retainer is configured to releasably secure a proximal end of a prosthesis to the elongate inner delivery member during delivery to the target site in a body, and wherein the valve retainer includes a rotational identifier that identifies the rotational orientation of the valve retainer around the longitudinal axis when the valve retainer is positioned proximate to the target site in the body, wherein the rotational identifier is a notch formed in the outer surface of the valve retainer such that the valve retainer is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for implanting a heart valve prosthesis in a body, the method comprising:
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advancing a delivery system to a native valve annulus in a body, wherein the delivery system includes an outer shaft, an elongate inner delivery member disposed within the outer shaft, the elongate inner delivery member having a longitudinal axis, a distal end and proximal end, a valve retainer connected to the elongate inner delivery member and disposed within the outer shaft, wherein the valve retainer has an outer surface, wherein the valve retainer includes a rotational identifier that identifies the rotational orientation of the valve retainer around the longitudinal axis when the valve retainer is positioned proximate to a target site in a body, wherein the rotational identifier is a notch formed in the outer surface of the valve retainer such that the valve retainer is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis, and a heart valve prosthesis having a proximal end releasably secured to the valve retainer, wherein the heart valve prosthesis includes a commissural post; generating a fluoroscopic image of the heart valve prosthesis and native valve commissures; and rotationally aligning the heart valve prosthesis by rotating the elongate inner delivery member and the valve retainer until the commissural post is aligned with a native valve commissure and the rotational identifier is visible on a predetermined side of the valve retainer such that the rotational position of the commissural post with respect to the rotational identifier is known. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An apparatus comprising:
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a valve prosthesis comprising; a prosthetic heart valve, a support structure, wherein the support structure includes a first material having a first radiopacity, and one or more radiographic identifiers, wherein the radiographic identifiers include a second material having a second radiopacity different from the first radiopacity, an elongate inner delivery member disposed within an outer shaft and having a longitudinal axis; and a valve retainer connected to the elongate inner delivery member and disposed within the outer shaft, wherein the valve retainer has an outer surface, wherein the valve retainer is configured to releasably secure a proximal end the heart valve prosthesis to the elongate inner delivery member during delivery to a target site in a body, wherein the valve retainer includes a rotational identifier that identifies the rotational orientation of the valve retainer around the longitudinal axis when the valve retainer is positioned proximate to the target site in the body, wherein the rotational identifier includes a notch on the other surface of the valve retainer such that the valve retainer is asymmetric relative to the longitudinal axis. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification