Transluminal cardiac ball valve and method for deployment thereof

A transluminal cardiac valve, comprising:

• an operational state including:
• a generally tubular cage disposed in an expanded configuration having:
• a generally uniform central region;
• first and second ends each diametrically constricted relative to the central region, wherein the first end and the second end each further comprise an opening along the end in fluid communication with the generally uniform central region;
• a first frustoconical transitional portion between the first end and the central region, and a second frustoconical transitional portion between the second end and the central region;
• and
• a blood impervious region extending from the first end of the cage to within the generally uniform central region;
• and
• an inflatable plunger freely disposed and captured within the cage when inflated;
• and
• a delivery state including:
• the generally tubular cage disposed in a collapsed configuration and crimped onto an inflation balloon that is attached to and in fluid communication with an inflation catheter.

A method for deployment of a transluminal cardiac valve, the cardiac valve including an operational state comprising a generally tubular cage disposed in an expanded configuration having a generally uniform central region, first and second ends each diametrically constricted relative to the central region, wherein the first end and the second end each further comprise an opening along the end in fluid communication with the generally uniform central region, a first frustoconical transitional portion between the first end and the central region, and a second frustoconical transitional portion between the second end and the central region, and a blood impervious region extending from the first end of the cage to within the generally uniform central region, and an inflatable plunger freely disposed and captured within the cage when inflated, and a delivery state including the generally tubular cage disposed in a collapsed configuration and crimped onto an inflation balloon that is attached to and in fluid communication with a first inflation catheter, and the inflatable plunger deflated and in fluid communication with a second inflation catheter, the method comprising the steps of:

• inserting the generally tubular cage in the delivery state into a lumen of a catheter sheath such that the cage is disposed proximate a distal end of the catheter sheath;
• advancing the catheter sheath into a patient until the cage is disposed at an implantation site;
• translating the catheter sheath proximally relative to the first inflation catheter until the cage is free from being contained within the lumen;
• inflating the inflation balloon to expand the cage;
• deflating the inflation balloon;
• removing the thus deflated inflation balloon and the first inflation catheter from the lumen;
• inserting the inflatable plunger in the delivery state such that the inflatable plunger is disposed within the cage;
• inflating the inflatable plunger to the expanded configuration with fluid via the second inflation catheter;
• detaching the second inflation catheter from the inflatable plunger thus inflated to the expanded configuration;
• removing the second inflation catheter and the catheter sheath from the patient.