US20040210307A1 — Percutaneous transcatheter heart valve replacement

Claim 1

Independent Claim 68 words

1 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: an implantable structure which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path therethrough; a flexible membrane positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a membrane support positionable in the flow path and affixed to the implantable structure.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 68 words

1 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: an implantable structure which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path therethrough; a flexible membrane positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a membrane support positionable in the flow path and affixed to the implantable structure.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 25 words

2 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the membrane support comprises at least one radial rib extending across the flow path.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 19 words

3 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the membrane support comprises a circular wire frame.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 22 words

4 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the membrane support and the implantable structure define an integral framework.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

5 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane is attached to a central portion of the membrane support.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 19 words

6 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane has a substantially circular shape.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

7 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane has a substantially conical shape.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

8 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises at least one leaflet.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 20 words

9 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises a displaceable, expandable valve member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 20 words

10 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or biological materials.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 31 words

11 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the implantable structure and membrane support are fixed during opening and closing of the flow path by the flexible membrane.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 18 words

12 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the implantable structure comprises a tubular framework.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 29 words

13 . An expansible valve as in claim 12 , wherein the framework comprises a plurality of struts, wherein at least three struts are longer than the remaining struts.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 35 words

14 . An expansible valve as in claim 12 , wherein the framework further comprises a plurality of radial protrusions extending beyond the framework when the framework is implanted within or adjacent an intraluminal site.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 25 words

15 . An expansible valve as in claim 14 , wherein the radial protrusions extend circumferentially and longitudinally from an outer surface of the framework.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 25 words

16 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the implantable structure is covered with a layer of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene or biological materials.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 30 words

17 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the implantable structure, flexible membrane, or membrane support is coated with an anti-thrombogenic substance.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 33 words

18 . An expansible valve as in claim 1 , wherein the implantable structure, flexible membrane, and membrane support are expandable from a first reduced profile configuration to a second enlarged profile configuration.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 65 words

19 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: an implantable structure which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path therethrough; a displaceable, expandable valve member positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a valve member support positionable in the flow path.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 65 words

19 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: an implantable structure which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path therethrough; a displaceable, expandable valve member positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a valve member support positionable in the flow path.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 22 words

20 . An expansible valve as in claim 19 , wherein the displaceable valve member is affixed to the valve member support.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

21 . An expansible valve as in claim 20 , wherein the displaceable valve member and valve member support comprises an expandable ball valve.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 32 words

22 . An expansible valve as in claim 21 , wherein the ball valve is coupled to the implantable structure at a hinge point, and wherein the ball valve is centrally supported.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 22 words

23 . An expansible valve as in claim 21 , wherein the ball valve is axially slidable relative to the implantable structure.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 29 words

24 . An expansible valve as in claim 20 , wherein the displaceable valve member and valve member support are displaced during opening and closing of the flow path.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 137 words

25 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: a tubular framework which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path along a tubular axis, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of struts, wherein at least three of the struts are longer than the remaining struts; a flexible membrane positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a membrane support affixed to the tubular framework and disposed in the flow path when the framework has the enlarged diameter, wherein the membrane support inhibits movement of the flexible membrane in the second direction when the prosthetic heart valve is closed and does not substantially flex during opening and closing of the flow path with the flexible membrane.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 137 words

25 . An expansible prosthetic heart valve comprising: a tubular framework which is expansible from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter and having a flow path along a tubular axis, wherein the framework comprises a plurality of struts, wherein at least three of the struts are longer than the remaining struts; a flexible membrane positionable in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and a membrane support affixed to the tubular framework and disposed in the flow path when the framework has the enlarged diameter, wherein the membrane support inhibits movement of the flexible membrane in the second direction when the prosthetic heart valve is closed and does not substantially flex during opening and closing of the flow path with the flexible membrane.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 112 words

26 . A method for implanting an expansible prosthetic heart valve, the method comprising: providing a prosthetic heart valve having an expansible structure, a flexible membrane, and a membrane support; implanting the expansible structure within or adjacent to an intraluminal site and expanding the structure from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter, wherein a flow path extends therethrough; positioning the flexible membrane in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and positioning the membrane support in the flow path, wherein the membrane support does not flex during opening and closing of the flow path by the flexible membrane.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 112 words

26 . A method for implanting an expansible prosthetic heart valve, the method comprising: providing a prosthetic heart valve having an expansible structure, a flexible membrane, and a membrane support; implanting the expansible structure within or adjacent to an intraluminal site and expanding the structure from a first reduced diameter to a second enlarged diameter, wherein a flow path extends therethrough; positioning the flexible membrane in the flow path for permitting flow in a first direction and substantially resisting flow in a second direction; and positioning the membrane support in the flow path, wherein the membrane support does not flex during opening and closing of the flow path by the flexible membrane.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

27 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein the intraluminal site comprises a mitral valve, aortic valve, pulmonary valve, or tricuspid valve annulus of the heart.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 39 words

28 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein the membrane support is affixed to the structure, and wherein the membrane support and structure are fixed during opening and closing of the flow path by the flexible membrane.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 45 words

29 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein the flexible membrane comprises an expandable valve member affixed to the membrane support, further comprising displacing the expandable valve member and membrane support at a hinge or in an axial direction relative to the structure.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 32 words

30 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein implanting is carried out by percutaneously passing a catheter endoluminally through an anatomic passageway to a valved anatomic site within the heart.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 26 words

31 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein implanting further comprises aligning the structure within the intraluminal site with at least three long struts.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 19 words

32 . A method as in claim 26 , further comprising anchoring the structure with a plurality of hooks.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 29 words

33 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein positioning further comprises expanding the membrane support from a first reduced profile configuration to a second enlarged profile configuration.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 29 words

34 . A method as in claim 26 , wherein positioning further comprises expanding the flexible membrane from a first reduced profile configuration to a second enlarged profile configuration.

Percutaneous transcatheter heart valve replacement

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