Geometrically-accommodating heart valve replacement device

A valve replacement device comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the valve frame having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame having a height in a direction perpendicular to the diameter, the valve frame being expandable to increase the diameter in an operational configuration and contractible to decrease the diameter in a contracted configuration and having a height to diameter ratio ranging from 0.5:1 to 2.5:1 in the operational configuration;
• and
• a first leaflet coupled to the frame,
• wherein as the valve frame expands, the height decreases as the diameter increases, and wherein a free edge of the leaflets are 1.5 to 3.5 times the diameter of the opening.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening;
• and
• a second leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first and second leaflets contact one another to at least partially cover the opening,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm, wherein the first and second leaflets are moveable between the open and closed configurations over the diameter size range of the opening, and wherein the first and second leaflets are of equal size and shape.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening;
• and
• a second leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first and second leaflets contact one another to at least partially cover the opening,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm, wherein the first and second leaflet are moveable between the open and closed configurations over the diameter size range of the opening, and wherein the first and second leaflets have identical mechanical properties.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• and
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm, wherein the first leaflet has a Young's Modulus of between 30 MPa to 4 GPa, and wherein the first leaflet is made of a synthetic material.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• and
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm, and wherein the first leaflet has a thickness of 0.01 mm to 1 mm.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• and
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm, wherein the valve frame comprises first and second frame sections connected by a pair of commissures, and wherein the valve frame is symmetric such that the first and second frame sections are mirror images of one another.

A valve replacement device, comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the opening having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame being expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening from 5 mm to 50 mm;
• a first leaflet coupled to the valve frame, the first leaflet having an open configuration in which the opening is exposed, and a closed configuration in which the first leaflet at least partially covers the opening, wherein the valve frame comprises first and second frame sections connected by a pair of commissures;
• and
• a first reinforcement feature that connects to the tops of the pairs of commissures,
• wherein the valve frame is expandable to permit an increase in the diameter of the opening, and wherein the first leaflet is moveable between the open and closed configurations as the diameter of the opening expands from 5 mm to 50 mm.

A valve replacement device comprising:

• a valve frame defining an opening for passage of fluid, the valve frame having a diameter along a largest dimension of the opening, the valve frame having a height in a direction perpendicular to the diameter, the valve frame being expandable to increase the diameter in an operational configuration and contractible to decrease the diameter in a contracted configuration and having a height to diameter ratio ranging from 0.5:1 to 2.5:1 in the operational configuration, wherein the valve frame includes first and second frame sections configured to move laterally apart from each other as the valve frame expands, and wherein the first and second frame sections are connected by a pair of commissures;
• a first leaflet coupled to the frame;
• and
• a first reinforcement feature that connects to the tops of the pairs of commissures, wherein as the valve frame expands, the height decreases as the diameter increases.