Prosthetic heart valve having identifiers for aiding in radiographic positioning
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method comprising:
- providing a valve prosthesis that includes a prosthetic heart valve, and exactly three commissural posts, to which the prosthetic heart valve is coupled, which posts are arranged circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis of the valve prosthesis, and are configured to assume a collapsed position prior to the implantation of the prosthesis, and an expanded position upon the implantation of the prosthesis, and at least one of which commissural posts is provided with a radiographic identifier;
wherein the valve prosthesis is configured to have threefold rotational symmetry;
while the posts assume the collapsed position, placing, via a blood vessel of the subject, the valve prosthesis at least partially in a heart of a subject in a vicinity of a native heart valve having native commissures;
generating a fluoroscopic image of the native commissures and valve prosthesis; and
rotationally aligning the at least one of the commissural posts with one of the native commissures using the radiographic identifier visible in the image;
wherein rotationally aligning comprises;
rotating the valve prosthesis;
observing whether the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the same direction that the valve prosthesis is rotated, or in an opposite direction; and
if the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the opposite direction, rotating the valve prosthesis approximately 60 degrees to correct a rotational alignment of the valve prosthesis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods for implanting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve having commissural posts including the steps of placement through a blood vessel, using a fluoroscopic image, and rotationally aligning at least one post with a native commissure.
612 Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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providing a valve prosthesis that includes a prosthetic heart valve, and exactly three commissural posts, to which the prosthetic heart valve is coupled, which posts are arranged circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis of the valve prosthesis, and are configured to assume a collapsed position prior to the implantation of the prosthesis, and an expanded position upon the implantation of the prosthesis, and at least one of which commissural posts is provided with a radiographic identifier;
wherein the valve prosthesis is configured to have threefold rotational symmetry;while the posts assume the collapsed position, placing, via a blood vessel of the subject, the valve prosthesis at least partially in a heart of a subject in a vicinity of a native heart valve having native commissures; generating a fluoroscopic image of the native commissures and valve prosthesis; and rotationally aligning the at least one of the commissural posts with one of the native commissures using the radiographic identifier visible in the image;
wherein rotationally aligning comprises;rotating the valve prosthesis; observing whether the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the same direction that the valve prosthesis is rotated, or in an opposite direction; and if the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the opposite direction, rotating the valve prosthesis approximately 60 degrees to correct a rotational alignment of the valve prosthesis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method comprising:
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providing a valve prosthesis that includes a prosthetic heart valve, and exactly three commissural posts, to which the prosthetic heart valve is coupled, which posts are arranged circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis of the valve prosthesis, and are configured to assume a collapsed position prior to implantation of the prosthesis, and an expanded position upon the implantation of the prosthesis;
wherein the valve prosthesis is configured to have threefold rotational symmetry;while the posts assume the collapsed position, placing, via a blood vessel of the subject, the valve prosthesis at least partially in a heart of a subject in a vicinity of a native heart valve having native commissures; generating a fluoroscopic image of the native commissures and valve prosthesis; and rotationally aligning the at least one of the commissural posts with one of the native commissures by; rotating the valve prosthesis, observing whether the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the same direction that the valve prosthesis is rotated, or in an opposite direction, and if the at least one of the commissural posts appears to move in the image in the opposite direction, rotating the valve prosthesis to correct a rotational alignment of the valve prosthesis;
wherein rotating the valve prosthesis to correct the rotational alignment comprises rotating the valve prosthesis approximately 60 degrees.
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8. A method comprising:
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providing a valve prosthesis that includes a prosthetic heart valve, and exactly three commissural posts, to which the prosthetic heart valve is coupled, which posts are arranged circumferentially around a central longitudinal axis of the valve prosthesis, and are configured to assume a collapsed position prior to the implantation of the prosthesis, and an expanded position upon the implantation of the prosthesis, and at least one of which commissural posts is provided with a radiographic identifier;
wherein the radiographic identifier is shaped to be reflection-asymmetric about a post axis of the at least one of the commissural posts, which axis is generally parallel with the central longitudinal axis when the posts assume the collapsed position;
wherein the valve is configured to have three-fold rotational symmetry;while the posts assume the collapsed position, placing, via a blood vessel of the subject, the valve prosthesis at least partially in a heart of a subject in a vicinity of a native heart valve having native commissures; generating a fluoroscopic image of the native commissures and valve prosthesis; and rotationally aligning the at least one of the commissural posts with one of the native commissures using the radiographic identifier visible in the image;
wherein rotationally aligning comprises;observing in the image whether the radiographic identifier appears in a correct left-right orientation; and
if the radiographic identifier does not appear in the correct left-right orientation, rotating the valve prosthesis to correct a rotational alignment of the valve prosthesis;
wherein rotating the valve prosthesis to correct the rotational alignment comprises rotating the valve prosthesis approximately 60 degrees.
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Specification