Heart valve annulus device and method of using same

• US 20050216079A1
• Filed: 04/12/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ample Medical, Inc. (MVRx, Inc.)
• Inventors: MaCoviak, John A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,887,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.380
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2403 with pivoting rigid closure members check valves with hinged closure members in general F16K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation

Abstract

A heart valve implant has a body sized and configured to rest near or within a heart valve annulus. A plurality of spaced-apart retainers extend outwardly from the body to contact tissue near or within the heart valve annulus. The retainers are sized and configured to secure the body to the heart valve annulus. The implant can be secured, e.g., without the use of sutures.

Claims

1. A heart valve implant comprising

a body sized and configured to rest near or within a heart valve annulus, and

a plurality of spaced-apart retainers extending outwardly from the body to contact tissue near or within the heart valve annulus, the retainers being sized and configured to secure the body to the heart valve annulus.

2. An implant according to claim 1

wherein at least one the retainers comprises a wire-form structure.

3. An implant according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers is collapsible onto the body

4. An implant according to claim 3

wherein at least one of the retainers is deployable between a collapsed condition free of contact with the heart valve annulus and a deployed condition in contact with the heart valve annulus.

5. An implant according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers includes a spring-like material.

6. An implant according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers includes a shape memory material.

7. An implant according to claim 1

wherein at least one of the retainers is curved.

8. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the body includes a prosthetic member.

9. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the body includes a prosthetic valve member.

10. An implant according to claim 1

wherein the body is secured to the heart valve annulus without sutures.

11. A method comprising

introducing an implant as defined in claim 1 into a heart, and

securing the implant near or within a heart valve annulus by contact between the retainers and the heart valve annulus.

12. A method according to claim 11

wherein the securing does not include the use of sutures.