Stentless support structure

• US 9,827,095 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2016
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• 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:
  US15/246,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20160361165A1
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• 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 delivery device for an invertible support structure comprising:

a delivery catheter configured to contain an invertible support structure in an unfolded, elongated state;

an inversion mechanism passing through said delivery catheter and releasably connected to said invertible support structure distal of a preformed fold formed in said support structure;

wherein said inversion mechanism is usable to initiate inversion of said support structure during delivery by acting on a distal portion of said support structure.

2. The delivery device of claim 1 wherein said inversion mechanism comprises a pull wire.

3. The delivery device of claim 1 wherein said inversion mechanism passes at least partially through said support structure.

4. The delivery device of claim 1 wherein said inversion mechanism is releasably connected to a distal end of said support structure.

5. The delivery device of claim 1 wherein said support structure comprises two axially spaced preformed folds and said inversion mechanism is releasably connected to said invertible support structure near a distal-most preformed fold.

6. The delivery device of claim 5 wherein said preformed folds cause said support structure to form a folded structure, upon inversion, having three plies in at some point along an axial length of said folded structure.