Bulbous valve and stent for treating vascular reflux
OwnerPatricia E. Thorpe, Franciso J. Osseinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A stent and valve device (43) assembly for manufacture using suitable biocompatible materials and for placement, preferably percutaneously, into a vascular lumen.
Claims24
A self-expanding replacement valve assembly having a bulbous-shaped portion and which is configured for implantation within avascular lumen, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of flexible members, each flexible member conformed to cooperate with at least one other flexible member to unidirectionally admit vascular fluid through the valve assembly and to prevent retrograde flow of the vascular fluid through the valve assembly.
A stent and valve assembly for use in a vascular lumen, comprising:
- a. a flexible and resilient structure of a plurality of struts designed as a variably diametered tubular shape;
- and
- b. a plurality of valve leaflets formed from either SIS or sclera material and attached along designated edge portions to a plurality of said struts to enable opening and closing of free edge portions to emulate the operation of a naturally occurring vascular valve.
A method of making a replacement valve assembly for implantation into a vascular lumen and to function as a check valve, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of flexible members, each flexible member conformed to cooperate with the other at least one flexible member to unidirectionally admit vascular fluid through the valve assembly, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a flexible biocompatible material;
- constructing a plurality of flexible members from the flexible material;
- and
- disposing the flexible members in a bulbous-shaped portion of a tubular member having at least one stage so as to function as a unidirectional flow valve.
A method of treating chronic vascular insufficiency, the method comprising the steps of providing a replacement valve assembly shaped with a bulbous portion for implantation within a venous lumen, the valve assembly comprising a plurality of flexible members, each flexible member shaped to cooperate with the other at least one flexible member to unidirectionally admit vascular fluid through the valve assembly;
- introducing at least one of said replacement valve assemblies into a venous lumen generally proximate an insufficient vascular valve;
- and fixing said replacement valve assembly in said venous lumen by actuating a self expanding portion of the valve assembly to engage the inner lumenal wall of the venous lumen.
A method of making a vascular valve member assembly from mammalian sclera or small intestine sub-mucosa (SIS), the method comprising the steps of providing a mammalian tissue source;
- removing said tissue from the tissue source;
- and fashioning the valve member from the sclera or SIS.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.