# US 11,298,226 B2 · Valve prosthesis frames > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,298,226 B2 - Document ID: US11298226B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/816,454 - Filed: 2020-03-12 - Published: 2020-07-02 - Granted: 2022-04-12 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-14 - Assignees: Medtronic Cv Luxembourg S.A.R.L. - Applicants: Medtronic CV Luxembourg S.A.R.L. - Inventors: Padraig Savage; Joseph Callol; Alaena Destefano; Joshua Dwork; Devin Gosal; Karan Punga; Finn Rinne; Billy Tam - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11298226B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/2418: {Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents} - A61F 2002/91558: {connected peak to peak} - A61F 2220/005: using adhesives - A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped - A61F 2230/005: Rosette-shaped, e.g. star-shaped - A61F 2230/0054: V-shaped - A61F 2230/0078: hyperboloidal - A61F 2230/008: paraboloidal - A61F 2250/0037: differing in height or in length - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) ## Abstract A prosthesis can include a collapsible, reexpandable frame comprising first, second, and third sets of struts that define first and second rows of expandable cells. In some embodiments, the struts of the first, second, and third set of struts can be tapered. In some embodiments, the frame can include an intermediate section and an inflow section that is proximal to the intermediate section. The inflow section can include a concave saddle portion that is adjacent the intermediate section, and an outwardly flared portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A prosthesis comprising: a collapsible and re-expandable frame, the frame having an inflow edge, an outflow edge, a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of coupling elements at the outflow edge of the frame, wherein the frame includes at least first, second, and third sets of struts that form first and second rows of expandable cells, and wherein in an original manufactured condition, struts axially aligned in a column with a coupling element of the plurality of coupling elements are configured to be less stiff than struts not axially aligned with one of the plurality of coupling elements, and wherein a width or thickness of the struts axially aligned in the column with the coupling element is smaller than a respective width or thickness of the struts that are not axially aligned with one of the plurality of coupling elements. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts comprises a first proximal segment, a first intermediate segment with a first width, and a first distal segment, and wherein each strut of the second set of struts comprises a second proximal segment, a second intermediate segment with a second width, and a second distal segment, and wherein the second width of the second intermediate segment of each strut of the second set of struts is greater than the first width of the first intermediate segment of each strut of the first set of struts. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein a first length between centers of the first plurality of nodes and centers of the second plurality of nodes is longer than a second length between the centers of the second plurality of nodes and centers of the third plurality of nodes. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each node of the second plurality of nodes has a first length, each node of the third plurality of nodes has a second length, and the first length is longer than the second length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts comprises a first proximal segment with a first width, a first intermediate segment with a second width, and a first distal segment with a third width, the first width of the first proximal segment being smaller than the second width of the first intermediate segment and the second width of the first intermediate segment being smaller than the third width of the first distal segment. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein the first row of expandable cells forms an outwardly flared portion at the inflow edge of the frame and the second row of expandable cells forms a concave saddle portion that is adjacent and distal to the outwardly flared portion. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, further comprising: a valve body coupled to the frame. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The prosthesis of claim 1, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, and wherein each node of the first plurality of nodes, which together define an inflow end of the prosthesis, comprises a keyhole-shaped opening having a distal portion with a first width and a proximal portion with a second width that is greater than the first width, and wherein the distal portion of each keyhole-shaped opening opens to a corresponding expandable cell of the first row of expandable cells. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The prosthesis of claim 8, wherein the keyhole-shaped openings distribute forces generated by compressing the frame away from apices of the first plurality of nodes and provide a resulting force distribution at the inflow end of the prosthesis that permits the frame to be more evenly compressed while maintaining strength thereof. ### Claim 10 A prosthesis comprising: a collapsible and re-expandable frame, the frame having an inflow edge, an outflow edge, a longitudinal axis, and a plurality of coupling elements at the outflow edge of the frame, wherein the frame includes at least first, second, and third sets of struts that form first and second rows of expandable cells, and wherein in an original manufactured condition, struts axially aligned in a column with a coupling element of the plurality of coupling elements are configured to be less stiff than struts not axially aligned with one of the plurality of coupling elements, and wherein a length, width, or thickness of nodes connecting the struts axially aligned in the column with the coupling element are smaller than a respective length, width, or thickness of nodes connecting the struts that are not axially aligned with one of the plurality of coupling elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts comprises a first proximal segment, a first intermediate segment with a first width, and a first distal segment, and wherein each strut of the second set of struts comprises a second proximal segment, a second intermediate segment with a second width, and a second distal segment, and wherein the second width of the second intermediate segment of each strut of the second set of struts is greater than the first width of the first intermediate segment of each strut of the first set of struts. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein a first length between centers of the first plurality of nodes and centers of the second plurality of nodes is longer than a second length between the centers of the second plurality of nodes and centers of the third plurality of nodes. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each node of the second plurality of nodes has a first length, each node of the third plurality of nodes has a second length, and the first length is longer than the second length. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein each strut of the first set of struts comprises a first proximal segment with a first width, a first intermediate segment with a second width, and a first distal segment with a third width, the first width of the first proximal segment being smaller than the second width of the first intermediate segment and the second width of the first intermediate segment being smaller than the third width of the first distal segment. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, the first and second sets of struts are connected at a second plurality of nodes to define the first row of expandable cells, and the second and third sets of struts are connected at a third plurality of nodes to define the second row of expandable cells, and wherein the first row of expandable cells forms an outwardly flared portion at the inflow edge of the frame and the second row of expandable cells forms a concave saddle portion that is adjacent and distal to the outwardly flared portion. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, further comprising: a valve body coupled to the frame. ### Claim 17 (depends on 10) The prosthesis of claim 10, wherein struts of the first set of struts are connected to adjacent struts of the first set of struts at a first plurality of nodes at the inflow edge, and wherein each node of the first plurality of nodes, which together define an inflow end of the prosthesis, comprises a keyhole-shaped opening having a distal portion with a first width and a proximal portion with a second width that is greater than the first width, and wherein the distal portion of each keyhole-shaped opening opens to a corresponding expandable cell of the first row of expandable cells. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The prosthesis of claim 17, wherein the keyhole-shaped openings distribute forces generated by compressing the frame away from apices of the first plurality of nodes and provide a resulting force distribution at the inflow end of the prosthesis that permits the frame to be more evenly compressed while maintaining strength thereof.