US 9,492,274 B2Granted

Method for loading a self-expanding collapsible heart valve

AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.

InventorsMichael A. Johnson, Valerie J. Glazier, Huisun Wang

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An assembly for collapsing a prosthetic heart valve includes a compression member and a pusher member. The compression member has a first open end with a first diameter, a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter, and a tapered wall between the first open end and the second open end. The pusher member has a base adapted to engage an end of the valve. The pusher member and the compression member are movable relative to one another between an initial position in which the base of the pusher member is relatively far from the first open end of the compression member and an operative position in which the base of the pusher member is relatively close to the first open end of the compression member. Movement of the pusher and compression members from the initial position to the operative position radially compresses the valve.

Claims4

Dependent claims

A method for loading a self-expanding prosthetic heart valve into a delivery device, the heart valve having a length, a stent portion formed from a material and at least one retaining member at one end thereof, the method comprising:

inserting the heart valve into a funnel having a first open end with a first diameter and a second open end with a second diameter less than the first diameter;
advancing the heart valve through the funnel until the at least one retaining member protrudes out from the second open end of the funnel;
attaching the at least one retaining member to a retaining element of the delivery device;
advancing a distal sheath of the delivery device over the heart valve to collapse a portion of the heart valve less than the length;
cooling the heart valve to a temperature below a transition temperature of the material forming the stent portion of the heart valve;
and
further advancing the distal sheath of the delivery device over the heart valve until the entire heart valve is collapsed.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/575,175Filed 18 Dec 2014 · division
Priority: 17 Sep 2010
Published: US 2015/0101171 A116 Apr 2015
Granted: 15 Nov 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification18 codes

A61F 2/2436
Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation: deployment by retracting a sheath
A61F 2/2418
With soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves: scaffolds therefor, e.g. support stents
A61F 2/2427
Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the…:…
B23P 11/025
By first expanding and then shrinking or vice versa, e.g. by using pressure fluids; by making force fits: by using heat or cold

Family

Application61/383,908Us provisional application · filed 17 Sep 2010
Application13/234,688Parent of this division · filed 16 Sep 2011
US 2015/0101171 A1Pre-grant publication · published 16 Apr 2015
US 8,973,234 B2Parent of this division
US 2012/0083875 A1Published application
US 9,492,274 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.