Valve prosthesis implantation techniques

• US 20080071362A1
• Filed: 03/23/2007
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ventor Technologies LTD. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ventor Technologies LTD. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Kilemnik, Ido, Tuval, Yosi, Benary, Raphael
• Granted Patent: US 8,348,996 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 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 2/2469 with resilient valve members, e.g. conical spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/9522 Means for mounting a stent or stent-graft onto or into a placement instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0075 sutured, ligatured or stitched, retained or tied with a rope, string, thread, wire or cable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0006 circular
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/005 Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0071 spherical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/008 paraboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

A method is provided, including providing a semilunar valve prosthesis, and implanting the prosthesis without using any imaging techniques. Another method is provided, including providing a semilunar valve prosthesis, placing the prosthesis in a body of a subject, and determining a correct rotational disposition of the prosthesis with respect to a semilunar valve site based on tactile feedback. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1-5. -5. (canceled)

6. A method comprising:

providing a semilunar valve prosthesis;

placing the prosthesis in a body of a subject; and

determining a correct rotational disposition of the prosthesis with respect to a semilunar valve site based on tactile feedback.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein providing the semilunar valve prosthesis comprises providing an aortic valve prosthesis.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein providing the semilunar valve prosthesis comprises providing a pulmonary valve prosthesis.

9. The method according to claim 6, wherein placing the prosthesis comprises placing the prosthesis without using any imaging techniques.

10. A method comprising:

placing a semilunar valve prosthesis at a native semilunar valve site; and

causing the prosthesis to self-align with respect to the site by gently rotating the valve prosthesis.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the semilunar valve prosthesis includes an aortic valve prosthesis, wherein the native semilunar valve site includes a native aortic valve site, and wherein placing comprises placing the aortic valve prosthesis at the native aortic valve site.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the semilunar valve prosthesis includes a pulmonary valve prosthesis, wherein the native semilunar valve site includes a native pulmonary valve site, and wherein placing comprises placing the pulmonary valve prosthesis at the native pulmonary valve site.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein causing the prosthesis to self-align comprises moving the prosthesis in an axial direction defined with respect to an axis of a downstream artery, while gently rotating the prosthesis, the downstream artery selected from the group consisting of:

an ascending aorta, and a pulmonary trunk.

14. The method according to claim 10, wherein gently rotating the prosthesis comprises moving the prosthesis in a proximal direction such that contact of the prosthesis with tissue of the native semilunar valve site causes the rotating.

15. The method according to claim 10, wherein placing the prosthesis and causing the prosthesis to self-align comprise placing the prosthesis and causing the prosthesis to self-align without using any imaging techniques.

16. The method according to claim 10, wherein causing the prosthesis to self-align comprises verifying that the prosthesis is properly aligned with respect to the semilunar valve site by attempting to rotate the prosthesis with respect to the semilunar valve site.

17. The method according to claim 10, wherein the prosthesis is shaped so as to define one or more proximal engagement arms that are configured to be positioned at least partially within respective semilunar sinuses of the native semilunar valve site, and wherein causing the prosthesis to self-align comprises causing the engagement arms to self-align with respect to the respective semilunar sinuses.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein gently rotating the prosthesis comprises moving the prosthesis in a proximal direction such that contact of one or more of the engagement arms with tissue of the native semilunar valve site causes the rotating.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein causing the prosthesis to self-align comprises verifying that the engagement arms are properly placed with respect to the semilunar valve site by attempting to rotate the engagement arms with respect to the semilunar valve site.

20. A method, comprising:

placing a semilunar valve prosthesis at a native semilunar valve site, the prosthesis shaped so as to define one or more proximal engagement arms;

attempting to position the engagement arms at least partially within respective semilunar sinuses of the native semilunar valve site; and

verifying that the engagement arms are properly placed with respect to the semilunar valve site by attempting to rotate the engagement arms with respect to the semilunar valve site.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the semilunar valve prosthesis includes an aortic valve prosthesis, wherein the native semilunar valve site includes a native aortic valve site, and wherein placing comprises placing the aortic valve prosthesis at the native aortic valve site.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the semilunar valve prosthesis includes a pulmonary valve prosthesis, wherein the native semilunar valve site includes a native pulmonary valve site, and wherein placing comprises placing the pulmonary valve prosthesis at the native pulmonary valve site.

23. Apparatus comprising a prosthesis for implantation at a native semilunar valve of a native valve complex of a subject, the prosthesis comprising a support structure, which is configured such that a correct rotational disposition of the prosthesis with respect to the native semilunar valve can be determined based on tactile feedback.