Method for treating an aortic valve
First Claim
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1. A method for replacing a heart valve in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
- advancing a prosthetic heart valve in a radially contracted configuration from a distal end portion of a delivery tube into an annulus of a native aortic valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a self-expanding, nickel-titanium alloy body and three bovine pericardium leaflets fastened to the body along three axially extending commissures;
allowing the first and second portions of the prosthetic heart valve to radially self-expand to an initial expanded configuration therein;
guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration longitudinally along three guide wires towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration, wherein the body of the first portion comprises a tubular mesh and first coupling features,the second portion is tubular and comprises second coupling features, the second coupling features complementary to the first coupling features,each guide wire is threaded through a respective first coupling feature and a corresponding second coupling feature, andeach guide wire comprises a loop extending out from the distal end portion of the delivery tube; and
engaging each first coupling feature to the corresponding second coupling feature, wherein the first coupling features and the second coupling features comprise apertures and tabs, thereby locking the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve to the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in a final expanded configuration.
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Abstract
A method for replacing a native heart valve with a prosthetic heart valve comprises moving a first portion of a prosthetic heart valve towards a second portion of the prosthetic heart valve along a plurality of guide wires, and lock the first portion to the second portion in a final, radially expanded configuration. The prosthetic heart valve is radially contractible and expandable, and in some embodiments, is self-expanding. Embodiments of the method are minimally invasive.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for replacing a heart valve in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
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advancing a prosthetic heart valve in a radially contracted configuration from a distal end portion of a delivery tube into an annulus of a native aortic valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a self-expanding, nickel-titanium alloy body and three bovine pericardium leaflets fastened to the body along three axially extending commissures; allowing the first and second portions of the prosthetic heart valve to radially self-expand to an initial expanded configuration therein; guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration longitudinally along three guide wires towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration, wherein the body of the first portion comprises a tubular mesh and first coupling features, the second portion is tubular and comprises second coupling features, the second coupling features complementary to the first coupling features, each guide wire is threaded through a respective first coupling feature and a corresponding second coupling feature, and each guide wire comprises a loop extending out from the distal end portion of the delivery tube; and engaging each first coupling feature to the corresponding second coupling feature, wherein the first coupling features and the second coupling features comprise apertures and tabs, thereby locking the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve to the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in a final expanded configuration.
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2. A method for replacing a heart valve in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
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advancing a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed configuration from a distal end portion of a delivery tube into an annulus of a native heart valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a first portion and a second portion; radially expanding the first and second portions of the prosthetic heart valve in the annulus of the native heart valve to an initial expanded configuration; guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration longitudinally along a plurality of guide wires towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration, the first portion comprising first coupling features and the second portion comprising second coupling features complementary to the first coupling features; and engaging each first coupling feature to a respective second coupling feature, thereby locking the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve to the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in a final expanded configuration; wherein the acts of guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration longitudinally along the plurality of guide wires towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve in the initial expanded configuration and engaging each first coupling feature to a respective second coupling feature are performed after the acts of advancing the prosthetic valve into the annulus of the native heart valve and radially expanding the first and second portions of prosthetic heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for replacing a heart valve in a patient in need thereof, the method comprising:
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positioning a prosthetic heart valve in a radially contracted configuration in an annulus of a native heart valve, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a first portion and a second portion; after positioning the prosthetic heart valve in the annulus of the native heart valve, longitudinally guiding the first portion of the prosthetic heart valve towards the second portion of the prosthetic heart valve along a plurality of longitudinally extending guide wires; and fastening the first portion to the second portion, thereby replacing the native heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification