Stentless support structure
First Claim
1. A prosthetic heart valve frame that is radially expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:
- a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
a continuous annular wireform adapted to form at least one valve leaflet, wherein when the prosthetic valve frame is in the expanded configuration, at least a portion of the wireform is positioned within the lumen defined by the support portion, and wherein at least a part of the wireform is configured to undergo flexion during pulsatile loading.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A prosthetic heart valve frame that is radially expandable from a compressed configuration to an expanded configuration, comprising:
- a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
a continuous annular wireform adapted to form at least one valve leaflet, wherein when the prosthetic valve frame is in the expanded configuration, at least a portion of the wireform is positioned within the lumen defined by the support portion, and wherein at least a part of the wireform is configured to undergo flexion during pulsatile loading. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
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10. A prosthetic heart valve frame that radially expands from a delivery configuration to deployed configuration, comprising:
- a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
a continuous annular wireform adapted to form at least one valve leaflet, wherein when the prosthetic valve frame is in the deployed configuration, at least a portion of the wireform is pulled into the lumen defined by the support portion, and wherein at least a part of the wireform is configured to undergo flexion during pulsatile loading. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
- a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
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17. A prosthetic heart valve frame that radially expands when released from a catheter comprising:
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a support portion adapted to anchor against a heart valve annulus, the support portion defining a lumen therethrough; and
,a continuous annular wireform adapted to form at least one valve leaflet; wherein when the prosthetic valve frame is released from a catheter, at least a portion of the wireform is pulled into the lumen defined by the support portion due to an inversion of the support portion; and
,wherein at least a part of the wireform is configured to undergo flexion during pulsatile loading. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification