Devices and Methods for Preparing A Transcatheter Heart Valve System
AssigneeMedtronic Vascular Galway
InventorStephen Peter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Devices and methods for preparing a transcatheter heart valve system. The device includes a housing, sealing apparatuses and a port. The housing forms a chamber sized to receive a prosthetic valve and a portion of a delivery device. During use, the prosthesis is seated in the chamber, and the sealing apparatuses operated to seal the chamber about the delivery device. Air bubbles in a liquid delivered through the delivery device and to the chamber are removed from the system via the port, thereby flushing the system. Further, the device is manipulated to permit loading of the prosthesis into the delivery device in an air bubble-free environment.
Claims21
An assembly for loading and delivering a stented prosthetic heart valve, the assembly comprising:
- a delivery device including:
- a tube terminating at a distal end and defining a lumen,
- a shaft disposed within the lumen and connect to a tip, the tip located distal the distal end;
- and
- a valve loading device selectively connected to the delivery device, the valve loading device including:
- a housing forming a chamber and terminating at opposing, first and second ends, wherein an opening to the chamber is defined at each of the first and second ends,
- a first sealing apparatus associated with the first end and configured to selectively sealingly engage the tip,
- a second sealing apparatus associated with the second end and configured to selectively sealingly engage the tube,
- a port open to the chamber;
- wherein the assembly is configured to provide a flushing state in which a stented prosthetic heart valve is located within the chamber and the valve loading device is assembled to the delivery device such that air bubbles entrained in a liquid delivered to the chamber can be removed via the port.
A valve loading device for flushing and loading a transcatheter heart valve system including a stented prosthetic heart valve and a delivery device, the valve loading device comprising:
- a housing forming a chamber and terminating at opposing, first and second ends, wherein an opening to the chamber is defined at each of the first and second ends;
- a first sealing apparatus associated with the first end and configured to selectively sealingly engage the delivery device;
- a second sealing apparatus associated with the second end and configured to selectively sealingly engage the delivery device;
- and
- a port open to the chamber;
- wherein the device is configured to retain a stented prosthetic heart valve within the chamber and for assembly to the delivery device such that air bubbles entrained in a liquid delivered to the chamber can be removed via the port.
A method of preparing a transcatheter heart valve system, including a delivery device and a stented prosthetic heart valve, for the performance of a transcatheter valve implantation procedure, the method comprising:
- seating a stented prosthetic heart valve within a chamber defined by a housing of a valve loading device, the housing extending between opposing, first and second ends and defining an opening to the chamber at the each of the first and second ends;
- connecting a first component of a delivery device to the stented prosthetic heart valve;
- sealing the first and second openings relative to the delivery device;
- dispensing a liquid through the delivery device and into the chamber;
- creating a negative pressure in the chamber to remove air bubbles entrained in the liquid;
- capturing the stented prosthetic heart valve within the delivery device;
- and
- removing the valve loading device from the delivery device.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.