Methods and Apparatus for Endovascularly Replacing a Patient's Heart Valve

• US 20120089224A1
• Filed: 12/13/2011
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sadra Medical, Inc. (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Haug, Ulrich R., Valencia, Hans F., Geshlider, Robert A., Saul, Tom, Salahieh, Amr, Morejohn, Dwight P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,011,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.17
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2415 Manufacturing methods
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2439 Expansion controlled by filaments
• 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 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0078 hyperboloidal
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0039 differing in diameter

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient'"'"'s heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.

Claims

1. A medical device for placement in the heart, the medical device comprising:

an anchor having a first end and a second end;

a plurality of posts, each post having a securement mechanism;

a plurality of engagement mechanisms; and

a replacement heart valve, the replacement heart valve comprising a plurality of leaflets, at least a portion of each leaflet being secured to at least one of the plurality of posts, the posts and engagement mechanisms being secured to the anchor;

wherein the engagement mechanisms are engageable to the securement mechanisms.

2. The medical device of claim 1, wherein each of the engagement mechanisms comprises a buckle.

3. The medical device of claim 2, wherein each of the securement mechanisms comprises a portion of the post.

4. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the post defines a plurality of holes extending therethrough.

5. The medical device of claim 4, wherein the posts are secured to the anchor via suture material extending through the holes.

6. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanisms are secured to the anchor via suture material.

7. The medical device of claim 1 having an undeployed configuration, wherein the anchor has a first length and a first diameter, and a fully deployed configuration, wherein the anchor has a second length and a second diameter, the first length different than the second length and the first diameter different than the second diameter.

8. The medical device of claim 7, wherein the second length is less than the first length and the second diameter is more than the first diameter.

9. The medical device of claim 1 further comprising a deployment system that is reversibly coupled to the braided anchor.

10. The medical device of claim 9, wherein the delivery system comprises a delivery sheath.

11. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the posts are secured to the first end.

12. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the engagement mechanisms are secured to the second end.

13. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the replacement heart valve comprises animal tissue.

14. The medical device of claim 1, wherein the braided wire is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of nickel-titanium, cobalt-chromium, and stainless steel.

15. A medical device for placement in the heart, the medical device comprising:

an anchor comprising a braided wire, the anchor having a proximal end and a distal end;

a plurality of posts, each post defining a slot and a plurality of holes extending therethrough, the posts attached to the distal end of the anchor;

a plurality of buckles; and

a replacement heart valve, the replacement heart valve comprising a plurality of leaflets, at least a portion of the leaflets extending into the slots;

the leaflets being secured to the plurality of posts, the posts being secured to the anchor via suture material extending through the holes thereof;

the anchor having an undeployed configuration and a fully deployed configuration, in the undeployed configuration the buckles are separated from the posts and in the fully deployed configuration the buckles are secured to the posts.