PROSTHETIC VALVE AND DEPLOYMENT METHOD

• US 20070293942A1
• Filed: 06/16/2006
• Published: 12/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Daryush Mirzaee
• Original Assignee: Daryush Mirzaee
• Inventors: Mirzaee, Daryush
• Application Number:
  US11/424,690
• Publication Number:
  US 20070293942A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2433 using balloon catheter
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0098 radio-opaque, e.g. radio-opaque markers

Abstract

Prosthetic valves that are adapted to be expanded into deployment and shrunk for repositioning and methods that are applicable to such valves.

Claims

1. A prosthetic valve, comprising:

an anchor formed from a shape memory material having martensitic state, an austenitic state, and a transition condition that is not a normal body condition, the anchor defining a delivery size, being mechanically deformable to a deployment size which is larger than the delivery size when in the martensitic state, and trained to shrink to a repositioning size which is smaller than deployment size when exposed to the transition condition and to remain at the repositioning size when subsequently exposed to normal body conditions; and

a leaflet device carried by the anchor and movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation.

2. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a thermally responsive shape memory material and the transition condition comprises a temperature above normal body temperature.

3. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shape memory material comprises a ferromagnetic shape memory material and the transition condition comprises a magnetic field.

4. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchor defines a generally tubular shape.

5. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of wires.

6. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anchor comprises a tube with a plurality of apertures.

7. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leaflet device comprises a plurality of leaflets.

8. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leaflet device is formed from at least one of natural tissue and synthetic material.

9. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

at least one protrusion extending outwardly from the anchor.

10. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the delivery size is a size suitable for endovascular delivery.

11. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the repositioning size is a size suitable for repositioning within the aortic valve region of the heart.

12. A method for use with a prosthetic valve having a leaflet device and a valve anchor with a martensitic state and an austenitic state, the method comprising the step of:

shrinking the valve anchor from a deployed size to a smaller repositioning size by causing the valve anchor to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state.

13. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of shrinking the valve anchor comprises shrinking the valve anchor from a deployed size to a smaller repositioning size by imparting a transition condition onto the valve anchor that causes the valve anchor to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state.

14. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of shrinking the valve anchor comprises shrinking the valve anchor from a deployed size to a smaller repositioning size by heating the valve anchor to a transition temperature that is above body temperature and causes the valve anchor to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state.

15. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of shrinking the valve anchor comprises shrinking the valve anchor from a deployed size to a smaller repositioning size by applying a magnetic field to the valve anchor that causes the valve anchor to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state.

16. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

moving the valve after the valve anchor has returned to the martensitic state.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

redeploying the valve, by expanding and mechanically deforming the valve anchor while the valve anchor is in the martensitic state, after moving the valve.

18. A method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of:

deploying the valve, by expanding and mechanically deforming the valve anchor while the valve anchor is in the martensitic state, prior to shrinking the valve anchor.

19. A method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of shrinking the valve anchor comprises shrinking the valve anchor, from a deployed size to a smaller repositioning size, onto an expandable device by imparting a transition condition onto the valve anchor that causes the valve anchor to transition from the martensitic state to the austenitic state.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the step of:

redeploying the valve by expanding and mechanically deforming the valve anchor with the expandable device.

21. An assembly, comprising:

a probe defining a longitudinal axis;

an expandable device, carried by the probe, including distal portion and a carrying portion, the distal portion defining a larger cross-sectional size perpendicular to the longitudinal axis than the carrying portion; and

a prosthetic valve including a leaflet device and an anchor formed from shape memory material carried by the carrying portion of the expandable device.

22. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the probe comprises a catheter body.

23. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the expandable device comprises an inflatable device.

24. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the anchor is crimped on the expandable device.

25. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein the carrying portion comprises the distal portion of the expandable device.

26. An assembly as claimed in claim 21, wherein

the expandable device includes a proximal portion defining a larger cross-sectional size perpendicular to the longitudinal axis than the carrying portion;

and

the carrying portion is located between the distal portion and the proximal portion.

27. A prosthetic valve, comprising:

an anchor including at least one structural member formed from a shape memory material and defining a non-constant cross-sectional size; and

a leaflet device carried by the anchor and movable between an open orientation and a closed orientation.

28. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one structural member comprises a wire with at least a first portion having a first cross-sectional size and a second portion having a second cross-sectional size that is less than the first cross-sectional size.

29. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 28, wherein the first portion defines a first cross-sectional size shape and the second portion defines a second cross-sectional size that is different than the first cross-sectional shape.

30. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 27, wherein the at least one structural member comprises a tube with at least a first portion having a first wall thickness and a second portion having a second wall-thickness that is less than the first wall thickness.

31. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 30, wherein the tube defines an outer diameter and the outer diameter of the tube is substantially constant.

32. A prosthetic valve as claimed in claim 30, wherein the anchor defines an outer diameter and the outer diameter of the anchor is non-constant.