Valve prosthesis for implantation in the body

• US 6,168,614 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences AG (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Heartport, Inc. (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Hasenkam, John Michael, Knudsen, Lars Lyhne, Andersen, Henning Rud
• Primary Examiner(s): Smith, Jeffrey A.
• Application Number:
  US09/026,574
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1, 623/2, 623/12, 623/11, 623/900
• US Class Current: 623/1.26
• 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 2/2475 Venous valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/005 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0058 soldered or brazed or welded
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/90 Stent for heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

A valve prosthesis (9) for implantation in the body by use of catheter (11) comprises a stent made from an expandable cylinder-shaped thread structure (2,3) comprising several spaced apices (4). The elastically collapsible valve (6) is mounted on the stent as the commissural points (5) of the valve (6) is secured to the projecting apices (4).

The valve prosthesis (9) can be compressed around the balloon means (13) of the balloon catheter (11) and be inserted in a channel, for instance in the aorta (10). When the valve prosthesis is placed correctly the balloon means (13) is inflated thereby expanding the stent and wedging it against the wall of the aorta. The balloon means is provided with beads (14) to ensure a steady fastening of the valve prosthesis on the balloon means during insertion and expansion.

The valve prosthesis (9) and the balloon catheter (11) make it possible to insert a cardiac valve prosthesis without a surgical operation comprising opening the thoracic cavity.

Claims

1. A method of endovascularly delivering a valve through a blood vessel, comprising the step of:

providing a tissue valve and a support structure, the support structure being movable from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape, the tissue valve being configured to permit blood flow in a direction and prevent blood flow in an opposite direction;

connecting the tissue valve to the support structure;

passing the support structure through a blood vessel with the support structure in the collapsed position; and

securing the tissue valve and the support structure to a desired valve location with the support structure in the expanded shape.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the support structure comprising a ring.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the ring being a cylinder.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the support structure having at least one commissure support extending outwardly from the ring.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the support structure comprising a wire.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the wire forming a closed loop.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the wire forming at least one commissure support extending outwardly from the ring.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the connecting step is carried out before the passing step.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

expanding the support structure from the collapsed shape to the expanded shape before the securing step.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the expanding step is carried out by inflating a balloon so that the balloon moves the support structure from the collapsed shape to the expanded shape.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the passing step is carried out by coupling the support structure to a catheter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the tissue valve having three valve leaflets.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being an artery.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being the descending aorta.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being the heart.

16. A method of endovascularly delivering a valve through a blood vessel, comprising the step of:

providing a valve having a support structure movable from a collapsed shape to an expanded shape, the valve being configured to permit blood flow in a direction and prevent blood flow in an opposite direction, the support structure having a ring with at least one commissure support extending from the ring, the commissure support supporting the valve;

passing the support structure through a vessel to a desired valve location with the support structure in the collapsed position;

expanding the support structure to the expanded shape with an expandable device thereby securing the valve to the desired valve location; and

removing the expandable device after the expanding step is completed thereby leaving the valve in the desired valve location.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the expanding step is carried out with the expandable device being an inflatable balloon.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of:

mounting the support structure to the expandable device before the passing step.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the support structure having a wire.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the wire forming a closed loop.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the providing step is carried out with the valve having a tissue portion mounted to the support structure.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the expanding step is carried out so that the ring continuously engages the desired valve location.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being an artery.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being the descending aorta.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the passing step is carried out with the desired valve location being the heart.