Implantable medical device with constrained expansion

A medical device for implantation in a body vessel, comprising:

• a support structure having a first, unexpanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration;
• and
• a graft member connected to the support structure and comprising a valve portion and a constraining portion, the valve portion adapted to permit fluid flow through said vessel in a first direction and substantially prevent fluid flow through said vessel in a second, opposite direction, and the constraining portion comprising a gathered portion of the graft member and adapted to substantially prevent the support structure from achieving the second, expanded configuration;
• wherein the gathered portion defines a passageway adapted to permit a controlled amount of fluid flow through said body vessel in the second, opposite direction;
• and
• further comprising a cannula disposed in the passageway.

A medical device for implantation in a body vessel, comprising:

• a support structure;
• and
• first and second graft members connected to the support structure, each of the graft members comprising a valve portion and a constraining portion, the valve portions being disposed substantially opposite one another and adapted to cooperatively permit fluid flow through said vessel in a first direction and substantially prevent fluid flow through said vessel in a second, opposite direction;
• wherein at least one of the constraining portions comprises a gathered portion of one of the first and second graft members, the gathered portion including first and second non-contiguous regions of the graft member held adjacent one another by a connecting mechanism;
• wherein the constraining portions cooperate to substantially prevent the support structure from achieving the second, expanded configuration.

A medical device for implantation in a body vessel, comprising:

• a support structure;
• and
• first and second graft members connected to the support structure, each of the graft members comprising a valve portion and a constraining portion, the valve portions being disposed substantially opposite one another and adapted to cooperatively permit fluid flow through said vessel in a first direction and substantially prevent fluid flow through said vessel in a second, opposite direction;
• wherein at least one of the constraining portions comprises a gathered portion of one of the first and second graft members;
• wherein the constraining portions cooperate to substantially prevent the support structure from achieving the second, expanded configuration;
• wherein the gathered portion defines a passageway adapted to permit a controlled amount of fluid flow through said body vessel in the second, opposite direction;
• and
• further comprising a cannula disposed in the passageway.

A prosthetic valve for implantation in a body vessel, comprising:

• a support structure having a first, unexpanded configuration and a second, expanded configuration;
• a first valve leaflet connected to the support structure and comprising a first valve portion and a first constraining portion comprising a gathered portion of the first valve leaflet that includes first and second non-contiguous regions of the first valve leaflet held adjacent one another by a first connecting mechanism;
• and
• a second valve leaflet connected to the support structure and comprising a second valve portion and a second constraining portion comprising a gathered portion of the second valve leaflet that includes third and fourth non-contiguous regions of the second valve leaflet held adjacent one another by a second connecting mechanism;
• wherein the first and second valve portions cooperatively regulate fluid flow through said body vessel;
• and
• wherein the first and second constraining portions cooperatively prevent the support structure from achieving the second, expanded configuration.