Method for replacing a heart valve
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorJan Otto Solem
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for replacing a native heart valve in need thereof comprises delivering to the native heart valve an apparatus comprising a valve member, a connecting member, and an anchor member suitable for anchoring the apparatus. The valve member reversibly moves between an open position and a closed position to augment or replace the function of the native valve leaflets, thereby reducing valve regurgitation. Some embodiments include a stent that is positioned in the native heart valve with the valve member disposed therein.
Claims17
A method for replacing a function of a native heart valve, the method comprising:
- compressing a valve-replacement apparatus to a small diameter;
- delivering the valve-replacement apparatus to a native mitral valve using a catheter;
- expanding a stent of the valve-replacement apparatus within the native mitral valve, the stent at least partially covered, a valve member disposed within the stent, the valve member including a plurality of pericardial tissue flaps arranged side-by-side with adjacent surfaces having coaptation areas in close contact with each other to prevent leakage between the flaps;
- extending a portion of a first end of a flexible connecting member through a tissue wall, a second end of the connecting member coupled to an outflow portion of the valve-replacement apparatus;
- and
- securing a disk-shaped element to the connecting member, the disk-shaped element contacting the tissue wall, to fix a position of the valve member within the native mitral valve.
A method for replacing a function of a native heart valve, the method comprising:
- expanding a stent of a valve-replacement apparatus within a native heart valve, a valve member disposed within the stent, the valve member including a plurality of flaps arranged side-by-side with adjacent surfaces having coaptation areas in close contact with each other to prevent leakage between the flaps;
- and
- anchoring a first end portion of a connecting member to a tissue wall to fix a position of the valve member within the native heart valve, a second end of the connecting member coupled to an outflow portion of the replacement valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.