PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE FOR TRANSFEMORAL DELIVERY

• US 20090138079A1
• Filed: 10/09/2008
• Published: 05/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ventor Technologies LTD. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Vector Technologies Ltd. (Holden Industries Incorporated)
• Inventors: Tuval, Yosi, Kovalsky, Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/248,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.110
• 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 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes

Abstract

Apparatus is provided that includes a valve prosthesis for attachment to a native valve complex of a subject. The prosthesis includes a support frame, which is shaped so as to define a plurality of axial support arches, which extend in a radially outward direction, and are configured to apply, regardless of a rotational orientation of the support frame with respect to the native valve complex, an upstream axial force to a downstream side of one or more native structures selected from the group consisting of: native leaflet tips of the native valve complex, and native valve commissures. The support frame is also shaped so as to define an upstream skirt, which is configured to apply a downstream axial force on an upstream side of the native valve complex. The prosthesis further includes a prosthetic heart valve, coupled to a portion of the support frame. Other embodiments are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus comprising a valve prosthesis for attachment to a native valve complex of a subject, the prosthesis comprising:

a support frame, which is shaped so as to define;

a plurality of axial support arches, which extend in a radially outward direction, and are configured to apply, regardless of a rotational orientation of the support frame with respect to the native valve complex, an upstream axial force to a downstream side of one or more native structures selected from the group consisting of;

native leaflet tips of the native valve complex, and native valve commissures, and

an upstream skirt, which is configured to apply a downstream axial force on an upstream side of the native valve complex; and

a prosthetic heart valve, coupled to a portion of the support frame.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial support arches extend in an upstream and radially outward direction.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial support arches extend radially outward in a direction orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial support arches protrude radially outward over the native leaflet tips.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial support arches are sized so as to not extend to floors of aortic sinuses of the native valve complex.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is configured to assume a radially collapsed position for delivery to the native valve complex, and a radially expanded position upon implantation at the native valve complex.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is shaped so as to define a multiple of three of the axial support arches.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a longitudinal distance from an upstream-most portion of each of the axial support arches to a downstream-most portion of the axial support arch is no more than 15 mm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support frame is shaped so as to define a plurality of commissural posts, and wherein at least one end of each of the axial support arches is coupled to one of the commissural posts.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the axial support arches extend in the upstream and radially outward direction at an angle of between 110 and 30 degrees with respect to a central longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve prosthesis is configured to not radially squeeze native leaflets of the native valve complex between any elements of the valve prosthesis.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the valve prosthesis is configured such that the upstream and downstream axial forces together anchor the valve prosthesis to the native valve complex.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the prosthetic valve is coupled to a downstream section of the support frame,

wherein the support frame is shaped so as to define a throat section longitudinally between the upstream skirt and the downstream section,

wherein a cross-sectional area of the valve prosthesis gradually decreases from the upstream skirt to the throat section, and gradually increases from the throat section to the downstream section, and

wherein a cross-sectional area of the throat section is less than a cross-sectional area of an aortic annulus of the native valve complex.

14. A method comprising:

providing a valve prosthesis, which includes (a) a support frame, which is shaped so as to define (i) a plurality of axial support arches, which extend in a radially outward direction, and (ii) an upstream skirt, and (b) a prosthetic heart valve, coupled to a portion of the support frame; and

positioning the valve prosthesis at a native valve complex of a subject, such that;

the axial support arches apply, regardless of a rotational orientation of the support frame with respect to the native valve complex, an upstream axial force to a downstream side of one or more native structures selected from the group consisting of;

native leaflet tips of the native valve complex, and native valve commissures, and

the upstream skirt applies a downstream axial force on an upstream side of the native valve complex.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing the valve prosthesis comprises providing the valve prosthesis such that the axial support arches extend in an upstream and radially outward direction.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein providing the valve prosthesis comprises providing the valve prosthesis such that the axial support arches extend radially outward in a direction orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the prosthesis.

17. The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the valve prosthesis does not comprise rotationally aligning the valve prosthesis with respect to the native valve complex.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the valve prosthesis comprises positioning the valve prosthesis such that the axial support arches protrude radially outward over the native leaflet tips.

19. The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the valve prosthesis comprises positioning the valve prosthesis such that the axial support arches do not extend to floors of aortic sinuses of the native valve complex.

20. The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the valve prosthesis comprises:

radially collapsing the support frame prior to delivery of the valve prosthesis to the native valve complex;

transluminally delivering the valve prosthesis to a vicinity of the native valve complex while the support frame is radially collapsed; and

radially expanding the support frame at the native valve complex.

21. The method according to claim 14, wherein positioning the valve prosthesis comprises positioning the valve prosthesis such that the upstream and downstream axial forces together anchor the valve prosthesis to the native valve complex.