Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
278 words
A method for delivering, positioning and/or repositioning a collapsible and expandable stent having a stent frame within a patient's heart chamber, comprising: providing at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs, wherein a distal end of each of the at least three wire pairs is operatively and releasably connected with a corresponding junction between two struts of the stent such that, for each of the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs, the non-looped wire wraps around the junction and extends through a loop formed on the distal end of the looped wire, and wherein proximal ends of each wire in the at least three wire pairs extend outside the patient; providing a delivery catheter comprising a lumen with a proximal end and a distal end; positioning the distal end of the delivery catheter within the heart chamber; advancing the stent in an expanded configuration into the proximal end of the lumen of the delivery catheter and collapsing the stent to a collapsed configuration; translating the collapsed stent in the collapsed configuration distally through the lumen of the delivery catheter; delivering the collapsed stent out of the distal end of the lumen of the delivery catheter and expanding the stent to an expanded working configuration; manipulating the proximal ends of each wire in the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs to position the expanded stent within the patient's heart chamber; releasing the non-looped wire from the looped wire to disconnect each of the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs from the expanded and positioned stent; and withdrawing each non-looped wire and looped wire proximally through the delivery catheter lumen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
278 words
A method for delivering, positioning and/or repositioning a collapsible and expandable stent having a stent frame within a patient's heart chamber, comprising: providing at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs, wherein a distal end of each of the at least three wire pairs is operatively and releasably connected with a corresponding junction between two struts of the stent such that, for each of the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs, the non-looped wire wraps around the junction and extends through a loop formed on the distal end of the looped wire, and wherein proximal ends of each wire in the at least three wire pairs extend outside the patient; providing a delivery catheter comprising a lumen with a proximal end and a distal end; positioning the distal end of the delivery catheter within the heart chamber; advancing the stent in an expanded configuration into the proximal end of the lumen of the delivery catheter and collapsing the stent to a collapsed configuration; translating the collapsed stent in the collapsed configuration distally through the lumen of the delivery catheter; delivering the collapsed stent out of the distal end of the lumen of the delivery catheter and expanding the stent to an expanded working configuration; manipulating the proximal ends of each wire in the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs to position the expanded stent within the patient's heart chamber; releasing the non-looped wire from the looped wire to disconnect each of the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs from the expanded and positioned stent; and withdrawing each non-looped wire and looped wire proximally through the delivery catheter lumen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the patient's heart chamber comprises the left atrium and the delivery catheter is positioned to provide a transseptal delivery of the expanded stent into the left atrium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein the stent comprises a lower end and an upper end, wherein the lower end is positioned adjacent to the patient's native mitral valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the delivery catheter is positioned to provide access to the patient's heart chamber by one of the group of delivery techniques consisting of: transapical; transfemoral; transatrial; and transseptal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the junction between the two struts is located at a lower end of the stent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the stent comprises a lower outer surface at least partially covered by a fabric skirt, wherein the at least three non-looped wire and looped wire pairs extend through the fabric skirt, and wherein the junction between the two struts is located at the lower end of the stent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each wire pair of the at least three wire pairs engaging a junction between two struts at a location that is spaced apart from the other wire pairs.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing a releasable lock operatively engaging each looped wire of the at least three non-looped and looped wire pairs.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a releasable lock operatively engaging the proximal end of the non-looped wire in each of the at least three non-looped and looped wire pairs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein locking the releasable lock corresponding to one of the at least three non-looped and looped wire pairs prevents the non-looped and looped wires of that wire pair from moving relative to each other.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein unlocking the releasable lock from the non-looped wire of one of the at least three non-looped and looped wire pairs allows relative movement between the non-looped wire and the looped wire of that non-looped and looped wire pair.