Anchoring device for replacing or repairing a heart valve

• US 9,078,747 B2
• Filed: 11/13/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Conklin, Brian S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sweet, Thomas J
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schutte, Wade P
• Application Number:
  US13/675,801
• Publication Number:
  US 20130166022A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.36
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/02 Prostheses implantable into the body closure means for urethra or rectum or for artificial body openings therefor A61F2/0004
• 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 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2463 Implants forming part of the valve leaflets
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 V-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0069 cylindrical
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility

Abstract

A device for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve or annuloplasty ring to a valve annulus in a heart and a method of implanting same is disclosed. The device can include a prosthetic valve or annuloplasty ring with one or more anchors configured to be threaded or otherwise passed underneath a native leaflet and/or subvalvular tissue to secure the device at the native annulus.

Claims

1. An anchoring device for an implant intended for implantation at a native heart valve annulus having valve leaflets, the anchoring device comprising:

a central portion with a plurality of distinct anchors extending therefrom, each of the plurality of anchors having a proximal fixed end secured to the central portion and terminating in free end, the plurality of anchors being spaced away from and running substantially parallel to the circumference of the central portion in a curved, non-overlapping fashion, forming valve leaflet-receiving slots between the anchors and the central portion, the slots having a width of about 0.005 to 0.25 inches to receive the leaflets.

2. The anchoring device of claim 1, further comprising one or more radiopaque markers positioned thereon.

3. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the device has two anchors and a first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 90 degrees while a second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 120 degrees.

4. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 90-120 degrees while the second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 150-240 degrees.

5. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the slots have a length of 0.25 to 3.5 inches.

6. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion is circular.

7. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the central portion is generally D-shaped.

8. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the implant is a prosthetic valve comprising a support frame and a valve portion, and wherein the anchoring device is secured to the support frame of the prosthetic valve.

9. The anchoring device of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the prosthetic valve is tubular and has an exterior surface forming a continuously curved surface, and each of the plurality of anchors forms a curve which parallels the curved surface of the exterior surface of the prosthetic valve.

10. The anchoring device of claim 1, wherein the implant is an annuloplasty ring, and wherein the anchoring device is secured to the ring such that each of the plurality of anchors extends partially around a circumference of the ring and substantially parallel to an outer surface of the ring.

11. An anchoring device for an implant intended for implantation at a native heart valve annulus having valve leaflets, the anchoring device comprising:

a central ring extending around a circumference; and

a plurality of anchors each having a proximal end fixed to the central ring and a distal end not connected to the central ring, each anchor extending in continuous, unbroken fashion from the proximal end to the distal end substantially parallel to and spaced from the curved circumference of the central ring, and each anchor extending from a different angular position around the central ring and extending in the same angular direction, the anchors being non-over-lapping.

12. The anchoring device of claim 11, wherein the device has exactly two anchors and a first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 90 degrees while a second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 120 degrees.

13. The anchoring device of claim 12, wherein the first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 90-120 degrees while the second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 150-240 degrees.

14. The anchoring device of claim 11, wherein the anchors lie in the same plane as and radially outward from the central ring.

15. The anchoring device of claim 11, wherein the anchors lie in a different plane than and axially spaced from the central ring.

16. The anchoring device of claim 11, wherein each anchor terminates in a rounded, enlarged end.

17. An anchoring device for an implant intended for implantation at a native heart valve annulus having valve leaflets, the anchoring device comprising:

a plurality of anchors each extending in continuous, unbroken fashion from a proximal end fixed with respect to the implant to a distal end that is cantilevered from the proximal end, each anchor extending from a different angular position around the implant and extending in the same angular direction, each anchor being spaced from an adjacent portion of the implant so as to define valve leaflet-receiving slots between the anchors and the implant, the anchors being non-over-lapping, and each anchor terminates in a rounded, enlarged end.

18. The anchoring device of claim 17, wherein the device has exactly two anchors and a first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 90 degrees while a second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of at least 120 degrees.

19. The anchoring device of claim 18, wherein the first anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 90-120 degrees while the second anchor extends around the circumference of the central portion through an angle of between 150-240.

20. The anchoring device of claim 17, wherein the anchors lie in the same plane as and radially outward from a central ring that forms a part of the implant.

21. The anchoring device of claim 17, wherein the anchors lie in a different plane than and axially spaced from a central ring that forms a part of the implant.