Replacement atrioventricular heart valve

• US 6,719,788 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 04/13/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3F Therapeutics Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: 3F Therapeutics Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Cox, James L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Willse, David H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MATTHEWS, WILLIAM H
• Application Number:
  US10/153,290
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143393A1
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.1, 623/2.11, 623/2.12, 623/2.13, 623/2.16
• US Class Current: 623/2.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/0095 Packages or dispensers for prostheses or other implants for intraocular lenses A61F2/1691; for dental surgery A61C19/02
• 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: A61L 2430/20 for reconstruction of the heart, e.g. heart valves
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3604 characterised by the human or animal origin of the biological material, e.g. hair, fascia, fish scales, silk, shellac, pericardium, pleura, renal tissue, amniotic membrane, parenchymal tissue, fetal tissue, muscle tissue, fat tissue, enamel
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3629 Intestinal tissue, e.g. small intestinal submucosa
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3641 characterised by the site of application in the body materials for artificial blood vessels A61L27/507; materials for use in artificial skin A61L27/60
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3645 Connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/3843 Connective tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 27/507 for artificial blood vessels apparatus for applying cells on a blood vessel prosthesis A61F2/062
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/04 Trading; Exchange, e.g. stocks, commodities, derivatives or currency exchange
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/90 Stent for heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/901 Method of manufacturing prosthetic device

Abstract

A replacement heart valve is configured to replace a native atrioventricular heart valve (mitral or tricuspid valve, positioned between an atrial chamber and a ventricular chamber). The replacement valve includes a a thin and flexible wall portion having no more than two leaflets. Two securement locations adjacent the outlet end of the valve are adapted to be attached to respective papillary muscles. The unconstrained regions between the securement locations flex inwardly into and out of engagement with each other in response to blood pressure in order to close and open the valve. The leaflets engage each other along a line of commissure.

Claims

1. A replacement atrioventricular heart valve, comprising:

a thin and flexible wall portion comprising no more than two leaflets;

an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end sized and adapted to be circumferentially secured substantially at a valve annulus formed by removing a native atrioventricular heart valve, the outlet end having a diameter no greater than that of the inlet end when the valve is open;

two securement locations adjacent the outlet end and spaced from each other, each of the securement locations adapted to be attached to a respective papillary muscle; and

two unconstrained regions between the securement locations, each of the unconstrained regions adapted to flex inwardly into and out of engagement with the other of the unconstrained regions in response to force by blood pressure, said unconstrained regions engaging along a line of commissure when the valve is closed, said line of commissure being generally parallel to a line extending between said papillary muscles,

wherein the replacement atrioventricular valve is derived from one or more of the following materials;

synthetic material, pericardial sac, fascia lata, intestinal tissue segment, or animal tissue culture.

2. A heart valve as in claim 1, wherein said line of commissure is curved.

3. A heart valve as in claim 2, wherein said line of commissure is curved in a manner that resembles a smile.

4. A heart as in claim 1, wherein the securement locations are positioned so as to engage the papillary muscles at substantially the same locations vacated by chordae tendinea of the removed native valve.

5. A heart valve as in claim 1, wherein the outlet end is slightly scalloped.

6. A heart valve as in claim 1, wherein the securement locations are about 180°

apart.

7. A heart valve as in claim 1, additionally comprising longitudinal suture lines substantially aligned with the securement locations.

8. A heart valve as in claim 1, wherein the wall portion is fashioned into a tubular shape by stitching a plurality of flat wall portion segments to each other along longitudinal suture lines.

9. A heart valve as in claim 8, additionally comprising reinforcement adjacent the securement locations.