Cardiac valve procedure methods and devices

• US 6,896,690 B1
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Viacor, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Robert Kevin, Lambrecht, Gregory H., Liddicoat, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David J
• Application Number:
  US09/700,167
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 623/1.13, 623/2.11, 606/200, 606/159, 606/168, 604/96.01
• US Class Current: 606/200
• 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 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

The present invention discloses devices and methods for performing intravascular procedures with out cardiac bypass. The devices include various embodiments of temporary filter devices, temporary valves, and prosthetic valves.

The temporary filter devices have one or more cannulae which provide access for surgical tools for effecting repair of the cardiac valves. A cannula may have filters of various configurations encircling the distal region of the cannula, which prevent embolitic material from entering the coronary arteries and aorta.

The temporary valve devices may also have one or more cannulae which guide the insertion of the valve into the aorta. The valve devices expand in the aorta to occupy the entire flow path of the vessel. In one embodiment, the temporary valve is a disc of flexible, porous, material that acts to filter blood passing therethrough. A set of valve leaflets extend peripherally from the disc. These leaflets can alternately collapse to prevent blood flow through the valve and extend to permit flow.

The prosthetic valves include valve fixation devices which secure the prosthetic valve to the wall of the vessel. In one embodiment, the prosthetic valves have at least one substantially rigid strut, at least two expandable fixation rings located about the circumference of the base of the apex of the valve, and one or more commissures and leaflets. The prosthetic valves are introduced into the vascular system a compressed state, advanced to the site of implantation, expanded and secured to the vessel wall.

Claims

1. A device for performing intravascular procedures wherein at least a portion of the device is configured for placement in a flowpath of a blood vessel, and said at least a portion of said device has an upstream side and a downstream side corresponding to antegrade blood flow in the flowpath of the blood vessel, said device comprising:

a) a valve means configured to allow greater antegrade flow than retrograde flow through the vessel, and said valve means positioned at the portion of the device configured for placement in the flowpath of the blood vessel; and

b) a filter operative to restrict the passage of emboli while allowing blood flow through the vessel, and said filter configured on the upstream side of said at least a portion of said device and said valve means configured on the downstream side of said device so as to position said filter upstream of said valve means and prevent prolapse of said valve means with said filter during blood flow in an upstream direction.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said valve means is blood flow activated to allow greater antegrade flow through the vessel.

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein said valve elements are blood flow activated to permit antegrade blood flow through said flowpath spanning portion.

2. A device for use in intravascular procedures, wherein at least a portion of the device is configured for placement in a flowpath of a blood vessel, said at least a portion of said device has an upstream side and a downstream side corresponding to antegrade blood flow in the flowpath of the blood vessel, said device comprising:

a) a filter operative to filter at least a portion of blood flowing through the vessel, the filter including a flowpath spanning portion positioned at the portion of said device configured for placement in the flowpath of the blood vessel; and

b) a valve assembly including valve elements configured on the downstream side of said at least a portion of said device and said filter configured on the upstream side of said at least a portion of said device so as to position said valve assembly downstream of the flowpath spanning portion of said filter at said at least a portion of said device and prevent prolapse of said valve elements with said filter during retrograde blood flow, said valve elements selectively configurable between a first state and a second state, said valve elements configured in the first state away from said flowpath spanning portion to permit antegrade blood flow through said flowpath spanning portion, and said valve elements configured in a second state adjacent to said flowpath spanning portion to prevent retrograde blood flow through said flowpath spanning portion.

3. A device for performing intravascular or intracardiac procedures wherein at least a portion of said device is configured for placement in a flowpath of a blood vessel, and said at least a portion of said device has an upstream side and a downstream side corresponding to antegrade blood flow in the flowpath of the blood vessel, said device comprising:

a) a valve means configured to allow greater antegrade flow than retrograde flow through said vessel, and said valve means positioned on the downstream side of said at least a portion of said device configured for placement in the flowpath of the blood vessel; and

b) a filter operative to restrict the passage of emboli while allowing blood flow through the vessel, and said filter positioned to upstream of said valve means on the upstream side of said at least a portion of said device configured for placement in the flowpath of the blood vessel.

6. A device according to claim 3 wherein said valve means are blood flow activated to allow greater antegrade flow than retrograde flow through said vessel.