# US 2013/0158656 A1 · Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0158656 A1 - Document ID: US20130158656A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/721,466 - Filed: 2012-12-20 - Published: 2013-06-20 - Earliest claimed: 2011-12-20 - Assignees: Boston Scientific Scimed, Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin Sutton; Brian D. Brandt; David J. Paul - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130158656A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/2436: {Deployment by retracting a sheath} - A61F 2/2418: {Scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents} - A61F 2002/9505: {having retaining means other than an outer sleeve, e.g. male-female connector between stent and instrument} - A61F 2220/005: using adhesives - 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 An apparatus for endovascular replacement of a heart valve may include first and second members which are releasably attached to each other such that the second member participates in engaging the first member with a locking element which cooperates with the first member to lock an expandable anchor of the replacement heart valve in a deployed configuration. Prior to locking and removal of the second member, the locking element may be prevented from engaging the first member by a portion of the second member. Following locking, the second member may be removed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve comprising: a delivery sheath; a deployment tool comprising a plurality of anchor actuating elements; an expandable anchor adapted to be disposed within the sheath and expanded by the deployment tool following deployment of the expandable anchor from the sheath, a replacement valve adapted to be disposed within the sheath for delivery to the vicinity of a heart valve; wherein the plurality of anchor actuating elements is adapted to apply a proximally directed force to a distal portion of the expandable anchor; a plurality of first members attached to the distal portion of the expandable anchor; a plurality of second members individually releasably attached to the first members; and a plurality of lock elements fixedly attached to a proximal portion of the expandable anchor and adapted to engage the plurality of first members to lock the expandable anchor in a deployed shape, wherein each of the first members is adapted to support the replacement valve within the expandable anchor, further wherein the plurality of second members each have a first position adapted to prevent release of the first member of a plurality of first members and a second position adapted to permit release of the first member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first member comprises a generally cylindrical portion and an attachment portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical portion is permanently attached to the attachment portion ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the attachment portion is adapted to be fixedly attached to the distal portion of the expandable anchor and to the heart valve. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the generally cylindrical portion of the first member is adapted to rotate freely about a longitudinal axis thereof while permanently affixed to the attachment portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the generally cylindrical portion of the first member includes a plurality of circumferential ridges. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a lock element of the plurality of lock elements is fixedly attached to a proximal portion of the expandable anchor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a lock element of the plurality of lock elements is adapted to engage with at least one of the plurality of circumferential ridges of the generally cylindrical portion of the first member in a first configuration and to disengage from the plurality of circumferential ridges of the generally cylindrical portion of the first member in a second configuration. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The apparatus of claim 8, wherein when the lock element is in the first configuration the generally cylindrical portion of the first member may move distally relative to the lock element and when the lock element is in the second configuration the generally cylindrical portion of the first member may move both distally and proximally relative to the lock element. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the lock element includes a plurality of engaging elements each of which may engage at least one of the plurality of circumferential ridges of the generally cylindrical portion of a first member of a plurality of first members. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each first member of the plurality of first members is adapted to support the replacement valve within the expandable anchor and further comprises a lumen within the proximal portion of the first member, said lumen being adapted to releasably receive one of the plurality of second members. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein a second member of the plurality of second members is attached to one of the plurality of anchor actuating elements of the deployment tool. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member includes one or more recesses adapted to releasably receive one or more projections associated with the second member when the second member is received within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second member includes a first projection biased to expand radially outward to engage with the one or more recesses included within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the second member further includes a second projection biased to expand radially outward to engage with the one or more recesses included within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second member includes a slidable element adapted to occupy a first position between the first projection and the second projection thereby preventing the first projection and the second projection from withdrawing from the one or more recesses included within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member and to occupy a second position in which the slidable element is not between the first projection and the second projection thereby allowing the first projection and the second projection to be withdrawn from the one or more recesses included within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the projection associated with the second member is adapted to engage with the one or more recesses included within the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member in a first rotational position and to disengage from the one or more recesses included within the lumen of the proximal portion of the first member in a second rotational position. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The apparatus of claim 11, wherein when the second member is removed from the lumen within the proximal portion of the first member the lock element locks the expandable anchor in the deployed shape. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of lock elements includes a lumen which may receive one of the plurality of first members and a pawl which is biased to enter the lumen and adapted to engage a feature of the received first member thereby preventing distal motion of the first member relative to the lock element when the first member is received within the lumen of the lock element. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the feature of the first member which the pawl may engage is a recess adapted to receive a portion of the pawl.