Implantable prosthetic valve assembly and method of making the same
First Claim
1. A method comprising connecting a valve member to an inner surface of a frame of an implantable prosthetic valve assembly, the frame being balloon-expandable and having an expanded state suitable for implant and a crimped state suitable for delivery, the method including connecting the valve member to the frame while a portion of the frame is partially crimped to a size between its expanded and its crimped states, the partially crimped frame portion having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the valve member when the valve member is expanded to its functional size, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of angularly-spaced, axial struts and a plurality of circumferential struts connected to the axial struts and extending circumferentially, each circumferential strut having multiple bends with each bend having an obtuse angle when the frame is radially expanded to a deployed state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An implantable prosthetic valve assembly having a support stent, or frame, having circumferential struts with multiple bends forming obtuse angles when the valve assembly is expanded to its functional size. The frame can be manufactured with one or more of the circumferential struts in a partially collapsed state and a flexible valve member can be mounted to the partially collapsed frame. The partially collapsed struts can be formed with multiple bends having angles selected to facilitate crimping of the frame to a profile suitable for percutaneous delivery. When the frame is expanded, the bends can expand to form obtuse angles, thereby enhancing the rigidity of the frame to better resist closing forces exerted on the valve assembly.
386 Citations
46 Claims
- 1. A method comprising connecting a valve member to an inner surface of a frame of an implantable prosthetic valve assembly, the frame being balloon-expandable and having an expanded state suitable for implant and a crimped state suitable for delivery, the method including connecting the valve member to the frame while a portion of the frame is partially crimped to a size between its expanded and its crimped states, the partially crimped frame portion having a diameter that is less than the diameter of the valve member when the valve member is expanded to its functional size, wherein the frame comprises a plurality of angularly-spaced, axial struts and a plurality of circumferential struts connected to the axial struts and extending circumferentially, each circumferential strut having multiple bends with each bend having an obtuse angle when the frame is radially expanded to a deployed state.
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33. A method of assembling an implantable prosthetic valve, comprising:
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providing a flexible valve member having a functional size; providing a balloon-expandable frame having an expanded state suitable for implant and a crimped state suitable for delivery, a portion of the frame being formed in a partially crimped state having a size between its expanded and its crimped states; and connecting the flexible valve member to an inner surface of the portion of the frame that is partially crimped, the partially crimped frame portion having a diameter that is less than the functional size of the valve member. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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Specification