Repositionable heart valve and method

#The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods and apparatus for percutaneously replacing a heart valve with a replacement valve using an expandable and retrievable anchor.

#Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Valve surgery is an open-heart procedure conducted under general anesthesia. An incision is made through the patient's sternum (sternotomy), and the patient's heart is stopped while blood flow is rerouted through a heart-lung bypass machine.

#Valve replacement may be indicated when there is a narrowing of the native heart valve, commonly referred to as stenosis, or when the native valve leaks or regurgitates. When replacing the valve, the native valve is excised and replaced with either a biologic or a mechanical valve. Mechanical valves require lifelong anticoagulant medication to prevent blood clot formation, and clicking of the valve often may be heard through the chest. Biologic tissue valves typically do not require such medication. Tissue valves may be obtained from cadavers or may be porcine or bovine, and are commonly attached to synthetic rings that are secured to the patient's heart.

#The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. A better understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to the following detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments, in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and the accompanying drawings of which:

#FIGS. 1A-B are elevational views of a replacement heart valve and anchor according to one embodiment of the invention.

#FIGS. 2A-B are sectional views of the anchor and valve of FIG. 1.

#While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described herein, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that such embodiments are provided by way of example only. Numerous variations, changes, and substitutions will now occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. It should be understood that various alternatives to the embodiments of the invention described herein may be employed in practicing the invention. It is intended that the following claims define the scope of the invention and that methods and structures within the scope of these claims and their equivalents be covered thereby.

#With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, a first embodiment of replacement heart valve apparatus in accordance with the present invention is described, including a method of actively foreshortening and expanding the apparatus from a delivery configuration and to a deployed configuration. Apparatus 10 comprises replacement valve 20 disposed within and coupled to anchor 30. FIG. 1 schematically illustrate individual cells of anchor 30 of apparatus 10, and should be viewed as if the cylindrical anchor has been cut open and laid flat. FIG. 2 schematically illustrate a detail portion of apparatus 10 in side-section.

#Anchor 30 has a lip region 32, a skirt region 34 and a body region 36. First, second and third posts 38a, 38b and 38c, respectively, are coupled to skirt region 34 and extend within lumen 31 of anchor 30. Posts 38 preferably are spaced 120° apart from one another about the circumference of anchor 30.