Reinforced surgical conduit for implantation of a stented valve therein

A pulmonary valve replacement system comprising:

• a delivery catheter;
• an inflatable member operably attached to the catheter;
• a vascular conduit having a long axis and a lumen communicating therethrough;
• a conduit support operably connected to the vascular conduit to reinforce the vascular conduit along the length of the vascular conduit;
• the conduit support comprising a substantially circular cross-section and wherein the conduit support comprises a braided structure interwoven with the vascular conduit, and wherein the vascular conduit comprises a woven polyester fabric;
• and
• a prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure, the prosthetic valve device disposed on the inflatable member for delivery to the vascular conduit.

A method for replacing a pulmonary valve, the method comprising:

• providing a vascular conduit positioned at a treatment site, the vascular conduit having a long axis and a lumen communicating therethrough and the vascular conduit further including a conduit support positioned within the vascular conduit wherein the conduit support comprises a braid structure interwoven with the vascular conduit;
• supporting the vascular conduit with the conduit support;
• and
• deploying a prosthetic valve device within the vascular conduit via a delivery catheter, the prosthetic valve device including a valve operably connected to a support structure.