Unstented Heart Valve with Formed in Place Support Structure
AssigneeDirect Flow Medical, Inc.
InventorsRandall T. Lashinski, Gordon B. Bishop
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An implantable prosthetic valve has an in situ formable support structure. The valve comprises a prosthetic valve, having a base and at least one flow occluder. A first flexible component is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature. The first component extends proximally of the base of the valve. A second flexible component is incapable of retaining the valve at a functional site in the arterial vasculature. The second component extends distally of the base of the valve. At least one rigidity component combines with at least one of the first and second flexible components to impart sufficient rigidity to the first or second components to retain the valve at the site.
Claims70
1-27. (canceled)
A method for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an expandable carrier element and a replacement valve endovascularly to a vicinity of the native heart valve, the replacement valve configured to allow the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a second direction;
- expanding the carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to a first expanded configuration in the vicinity of the native heart valve;
- evaluating the position of the carrier element;
- at least partially collapsing the carrier element from the first expanded configuration to a moveable configuration;
- repositioning the carrier element in the moveable configuration in the vicinity of the native heart valve;
- and
- expanding the carrier element from the moveable configuration to a second expanded configuration to secure the carrier element in the vicinity of the native heart valve.
A method for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an expandable first carrier element and a first replacement valve endovascularly to a vicinity of the native heart valve, the first replacement valve configured to allow the flow of blood through the first replacement valve in a first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the valve in a second direction;
- expanding the first carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration in the vicinity of the native heart valve;
- evaluating the position of the first carrier element;
- at least partially collapsing the first carrier element from the expanded configuration to a moveable configuration;
- completely removing the first carrier element and exchanging the first carrier element with a second carrier element having a second replacement valve, the second replacement valve configured to allow the flow of blood through the second replacement valve in the first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the second replacement valve in the second direction, the second carrier element having at least one of a different diameter, length or style than the first carrier element;
- and
- expanding the second carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration to secure the second carrier element in the vicinity of the native heart valve.
A method for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an expandable carrier element and a replacement valve endovascularly to a vicinity of the native heart valve;
- and
- expanding the carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration to secure the carrier element in the vicinity of the native heart valve,
- wherein the replacement valve prevents the flow of blood through the valve in a first direction and allows the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a second direction during the expansion of the carrier element.
A method for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an expandable carrier element and a replacement valve endovascularly to a vicinity of the native heart valve, the replacement valve configured to allow the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the valve in a second direction;
- and
- expanding the carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration to secure the carrier element in the vicinity of the native heart valve, the carrier element being configured to conform to the patient's anatomy upon expansion.
A method for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an expandable carrier element and a replacement valve endovascularly through a delivery sheath to a vicinity of the native heart valve, the replacement valve configured to allow the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the valve in a second direction, the carrier element being detachably coupled to at least three delivery apparatuses;
- extending the carrier element out of the delivery sheath;
- positioning the carrier element using the at least three delivery apparatuses;
- expanding the carrier element from a collapsed delivery configuration to an expanded configuration in the vicinity of the native heart valve;
- and
- removing the at least three delivery apparatuses.
A system for replacing a patient's native heart valve, the system comprising:
- a delivery sheath;
- an expandable carrier element having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, the carrier element configured to be delivered endovascularly to a vicinity of the native heart valve in the collapsed delivery configuration using the delivery sheath and in the expanded configuration in the vicinity of the native heart valve;
- a replacement valve coupled to the carrier element and configured to allow the flow of blood through the replacement valve in a first direction and prevent the flow of blood through the valve in a second direction;
- and
- at least three delivery apparatuses releasably coupled to the carrier element and configured to position the carrier element in the vicinity of the native heart valve once the carrier element is extended out of the delivery sheath.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.