Percutaneously-inserted cardiac valve
OwnerGeorge P. Teitelbauminventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cardiac valve implanted within the heart is given where a expansible valve maintained in a collapsed form by cold temperature is percutaneously inserted along a releasable guide wire in a cooled sheath and when positioned is expanded by withdrawing the cold temperature.
Claims8
A method of implanting an expansible cardiac valve within a heart wherein the expansible cardiac valve is comprised of a recovery metal having memory and which is capable of expanding to a desired shape comprising:
- releasably coupling a cardiac valve in a compressed form to a positioning device while maintaining a cool temperature sufficient to maintain the cardiac valve in said compressed form and which is capable of passing through heart within which the cardiac valve is to be implanted;
- manipulating the positioning device within the heart so as to position the cardiac valve at a desired location with the heart;
- ceasing maintaining cool temperature to effect expansion of the cardiac valve to a desired shape wherein the valve engages the walls of the heart;
- disengaging the positioning device from the expanded cardiac valve;
- and
- removing the positioning device to leave the cardiac valve implanted within the heart.
A cardiac heart valve comprising a stent and sliding obturator formed of a shaped memory alloy which has a transition temperature of from about 90.degree. to about 96.degree. F.
A mitral cardiac heart valve comprising a stent and ball and cage formed of a shaped memory alloy which has a transition temperature of from about 90.degree. to about 96.degree. F.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.