PROSTHESIS EXHIBITING POST-IMPLANTATION SIZE CHANGE

• US 20080114452A1
• Filed: 11/14/2007
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Shlomo Gabbay
• Original Assignee: Shlomo Gabbay
• Inventors: Gabbay, Shlomo
• Application Number:
  US11/939,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20080114452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.42
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0071 breakable or frangible
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth

Abstract

An expandable type of heart valve prosthesis includes means for retaining the prosthesis substantially at a first cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than a second, expanded cross-sectional dimension, and for breaking down to permit the support structure to expand toward the second larger cross-sectional dimension after being implanted for a period of time.

Claims

1. A heart valve prosthesis comprising:

a generally cylindrical support structure configured to expand from a first cross-sectional dimension to a second cross-sectional dimension, which is larger than the first cross-sectional dimension;

a valve attached to the support structure to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood through the heart valve prosthesis in a direction from an inflow end to an outflow end thereof; and

a member operatively connected with the heart valve prosthesis to maintain temporarily the support structure at a cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than the second cross-sectional dimension, the member comprising a biodegradable material whereby, after being implanted for a substantially predetermined time period, the biodegradable material breaks down to permit the support structure to expand toward the second cross-sectional dimension.

2. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material further comprises a natural material.

3. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material further comprises a synthetic material.

4. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable material further comprises at least one of a natural material and a synthetic material.

5. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the substantially predetermined time period is at least about four weeks.

6. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the substantially predetermined time period is at least about two months.

7. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a self-expanding support structure.

8. An expandable type of heart valve prosthesis comprising:

means for retaining the heart valve prosthesis substantially at a first cross-sectional dimension that is smaller than a second expanded cross-sectional dimension, and for breaking down sufficiently to permit the support structure to expand toward the second expanded cross-sectional dimension after being implanted for a substantially predetermined time period; and

means for expanding the heart valve prosthesis from the first cross-sectional dimension toward the second expanded cross-sectional dimension.

9. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises at least one suture.

10. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises at least one web of natural material.

11. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises at least one sheet of a pliant material and at least one suture to hold the at least one sheet about the heart valve prosthesis.

12. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises a biodegradable natural material.

13. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises a biodegradable synthetic material.

14. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the means for retaining further comprises at least one of a biodegradable natural material and a biodegradable synthetic material.

15. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the substantially predetermined time period is at least about four weeks.

16. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the substantially predetermined time period is at least about two months.

17. The heart valve prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the support structure comprises a self-expanding support structure.

18. A method comprising:

providing a heart valve prosthesis configured to permit post-implantation size change from a first cross-sectional dimension to a second cross-sectional dimension, which is larger than the first cross-sectional dimension, the heart valve prosthesis being configured to maintain temporarily the first cross-sectional dimension for a substantially predetermined period of time after being implanted;

implanting the heart valve prosthesis at an implantation site in a patient'"'"'s heart to replace a function of a patient'"'"'s native valve; and

after the occurrence of the substantially predetermined period of time after being implanted, the heart valve prosthesis expanding from the first cross-sectional dimension toward the second cross-sectional dimension commensurate with growth of the patient'"'"'s heart at the implantation site.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the expansion of the heart valve prosthesis occurs automatically.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the heart valve prosthesis is a first heart valve prosthesis, the method further comprising:

manually expanding the first heart valve prosthesis to or beyond the second cross-sectional dimension; and

implanting a second heart valve prosthesis at least partially within an interior of the expanded first heart valve prosthesis.