Prosthetic cardiac valves and systems and methods for implanting thereof

• US 7,503,930 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 03/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Crews, Sam, Foley, Mark, Cole, David, Gittings, Darin, Sharkawy, Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US11/707,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20070162113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 760 Days
• Field of Search: 623 21- 242
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2418 Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0066 stapled
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

Implantable prosthetic valve systems and methods for implanting them are provided. Magnets are employed within one or more components of the valve systems to facilitate anchoring of the prosthetic valve at a target implant site, delivery of the prosthetic valve to the target implant site or both.

Claims

1. In combination, a delivery conduit and a prosthetic valve replacement system for implantation at a target site within a subject, said prosthetic valve replacement system comprising:

a valve mechanism;

a fixation mechanism for retaining said valve mechanism in a fixed position at said target site; and

magnetic means comprising magnetic material for magnetically coupling said valve mechanism with said fixation mechanism,

wherein said fixation mechanism is changeable from a collapsed condition with magnetic material folded radially inward from a coupling position to an expanded condition with the magnetic material positioned at the coupling position for coupling with the valve mechanism.

2. The combination of claim 1, wherein magnetic material is provided as magnetic elements provided at spaced locations along the fixation mechanism that in its expanded condition comprises an annular element.

3. The combination of claim 2, wherein a plurality of pairs of magnetic elements are provided with hinge lines between at least one pair of magnetic elements to permit folding of the fixation mechanism to the collapsed condition.

4. The combination of claim 1, further comprising a stent operatively connected with the fixation mechanism that expands radially as the stent is axially shortened.

5. The combination of claim 4, wherein the stent is self-expanding so that by releasing a constriction provided to the stent, the stent expands to change the fixation mechanism from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

6. The combination of claim 4, wherein the stent is deformable so that by expanding the fixation mechanism, the stent is also expanded to maintain the fixation mechanism in the expanded condition thereof.

7. In combination, a delivery conduit and a prosthetic valve replacement system for implantation at a target site within a subject, said prosthetic valve replacement system comprising:

a valve mechanism;

a fixation mechanism for retaining said valve mechanism in a fixed position at said target site; and

magnetic means comprising magnetic material for magnetically coupling said valve mechanism with said fixation mechanism,

wherein said fixation mechanism comprises an annular ring including magnetic material arranged as a substantially annular surface for coupling to a substantially similarly arranged annular surface of magnetic material provided to the valve mechanism for coupling the fixation mechanism with the valve mechanism, and further wherein the magnetic material is provided as a continuous annular ring of magnetic material.