Implantable venous valve

A method of implanting a prosthetic valve within a blood vein, comprising:

• providing a prosthetic valve apparatus including:
• (a) a hollow conduit defining a central passageway through which blood may flow;
• (b) opposing pliable leaflet members located within the conduit, the leaflets configured to move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through the central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction;
• and
• (c) a hollow and generally cylindrical support member retaining the leaflet members thereon and coaxially disposed within the conduit, the support member comprising opposing cutaway regions defining two axially extending struts supporting the leaflet members, the cutaway regions in cooperation with said struts configured to allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position;
• forming an opening in either:
• (i) said vein;
• or (ii) a blood vessel in fluid communication with said vein;
• inserting the prosthetic valve apparatus through the formed opening to a desired location and orienting the prosthetic valve apparatus coaxially within the vein such that the leaflet members and struts extend in the direction of forward blood flow;
• and
• anchoring the prosthetic valve apparatus in the desired position.

A method of treating valvular insufficiency in a patient suffering therefrom, wherein a prosthetic valve apparatus is inserted into a vein of the patient at a first location selected to restore a valve function in the vein, the prosthetic valve comprising:

• a support body of synthetic material and of generally cylindrical shape having a lower circumferential base portion, opposing cutaway regions defining opposing and axially extending struts;
• two opposing flexible valve cusps of synthetic material secured to the support body opening and closing the valve, the valve cusps and cutaway regions being dimensioned such that the valve cusps are collapsible against each other to a closed position;
• and
• a hollow conduit enclosing the support body and flexible valve cusps.

A venous valve prosthesis, comprising:

• opposing pliable leaflet members, the leaflets configured to move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through a central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction;
• a hollow and generally cylindrical support member retaining the leaflet members thereon, the support member comprising opposing cutaway regions defining two axially extending struts supporting the leaflet members, the cutaway regions in cooperation with said struts configured to allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position;
• and
• one or more nibs disposed on an outside surface of said support member at a circumferential point below said cutaway regions for engaging with an intraveous stent.

A method of implanting a prosthetic valve within a blood vein, comprising:

• providing a prosthetic valve apparatus including:
• (b) opposing pliable leaflet members, the leaflets configured to move back and forth between a first, open position, whereby blood may flow through the central passageway in a first direction, and a second, closed position, whereby blood is prevented from backflowing through the central passageway in a second direction which is opposite the first direction;
• (b) a hollow and generally cylindrical support member retaining the leaflet members thereon, the support member comprising opposing cutaway regions defining two axially extending struts supporting the leaflet members, the cutaway regions in cooperation with said struts configured to allow the leaflet members to collapse inwardly to the closed position;
• and
• (c) one or more nibs disposed on an outside surface of said support member at a circumferential point below said cutaway regions for engaging with an intraveous stent;
• forming an opening in either:
• (i) said vein;
• or (ii) a blood vessel in fluid communication with said vein;
• mounting said valve apparatus on a balloon catheter;
• positioning a stent over said valve apparatus such that said valve apparatus is secured to said stent and inserting said nibs through apertures defined in said stent;
• inserting the balloon catheter through the formed opening to a desired location and orienting the prosthetic valve apparatus and stent assembly coaxially within the vein such that the leaflet members and struts extend in the direction of forward blood flow;
• and
• anchoring the stent in the desired position by attaching barbs disposed on an outside surface of said stent to a wall of said vein.