DEVICE FOR IN SITU POSITIONING OF CARDIAC VALVE PROSTHESES

• US 20080147180A1
• Filed: 12/19/2006
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corcym SRL (LivaNova Plc)
• Original Assignee: Sorin Biomedica Cardio Srl (LivaNova Plc)
• Inventors: Shin, Dong Ik, Righini, Giovanni, Ghione, Laura, Rolando, Giovanni, Gaschino, Paolo, Manasse, Eric
• Granted Patent: US 8,470,024 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• 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 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath

Abstract

An instrument for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis in a vessel includes a wire element to slidingly guide the valve prosthesis towards an implantation site and an expandable element coupled to the wire element. The expandable element is expandable in the vessel to position the wire element in association with the implantation site. A method for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis includes securing a delivery instrument at an appropriate location at the implantation site and delivering the valve prosthesis to the implantation site using the delivery instrument.

Claims

1. An improved device for delivering an expandable cardiac valve prosthesis to a desired position in a vessel, the improvement comprising:

a wire or wire-like element to facilitate advancement of the valve prosthesis, the wire or wire-like element including an abutment element configured to limit advancement of the prosthesis at a desired location along said wire or wire-like element.

2. The improved device of claim 1 in which said abutment element can be variably positioned along the length of said wire or wire-like element.

3. The improved device of claim 1 in which said abutment element is sized and dimensioned to permit the flow of blood past said abutment element.

4. The improved device of claim 1 further comprising a filtering element capable of removing debris emanating from a diseased native valve while permitting the flow of blood therethrough.

5. The improved device of claim 1 further comprising one or more markers visually perceptible using an imaging technique.

6. The improved device of claim 1 further comprising a sensor to indicate said prosthesis has reached a desired location on said guide wire.

7. An improved device for delivering an expandable cardiac valve prosthesis to a desired position in a vessel, the improvement comprising:

a sensor on said device.

8. The improved device of claim 7 in which said sensor further comprises a sensor indicating that said cardiac valve prosthesis is at a desired location on said device.

9. The improved device of claim 7 further comprising a visual or auditory indicator actuated by said prosthesis coming in contact with said sensor.

10. The improved device of claim 7 comprising a plurality of sensors.

11. The improved device of claim 10 in which said plurality of sensors indicate varying positions of said prosthesis along a path of travel.

12. The improved device of claim 10 in which at least one of said sensors measures a physiological state.

13. The improved device of claim 10 in which said physiological state is blood pressure.

14. The improved device of claim 7 in which at least one of said sensors measures the radial orientation of said prosthesis.

15. The improved device of claim 7 in which at least one of said sensors is capable of measuring the width of a vessel.

16. The improved device of claim 15 in which said sensor is capable of measuring pressure differentials.

17. An improved device for delivering an expandable cardiac valve prosthesis to a desired position in a vessel, the improvement comprising:

a marker.

18. The improved device of claim 17 further comprising a plurality of markers.

19. The improved device of claim 17 in which said marker is visible using an external imaging technique.

20. The improved device of claim 17 in which said marker is sized and located to provide a visual image, externally of a patient, of the location of a cardiac valve prosthesis located within said patient.

21. The device of claim 17 further comprising an expandable cardiac valve prosthesis.