Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
1 . A cardiac-valve prosthesis adapted for percutaneous implantation, the prosthesis comprising: an armature adapted for deployment in a radially expanded implantation position, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion, which are substantially axially coextensive with respect to one another; and a set of leaflets coupled to the support portion, which can be deployed with the armature in the implantation position, wherein the leaflets define, in the implantation position, a flow duct that is selectably obstructable; wherein the anchor portion can be deployed to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at an implantation site.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
1 . A cardiac-valve prosthesis adapted for percutaneous implantation, the prosthesis comprising: an armature adapted for deployment in a radially expanded implantation position, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion, which are substantially axially coextensive with respect to one another; and a set of leaflets coupled to the support portion, which can be deployed with the armature in the implantation position, wherein the leaflets define, in the implantation position, a flow duct that is selectably obstructable; wherein the anchor portion can be deployed to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at an implantation site.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
2 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the anchor portion and the support portion of the armature are structurally distinct from one another.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
3 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the anchor portion and the support portion of the armature form different parts of a single structure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
4 . The prosthesis according to claim 2 wherein the anchor portion of the armature has a set of ribs which, in the implantation position, are adapted to conform to a shape of the implantation site.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
5 . The prosthesis according to claim 4 wherein the ribs have at least one arched portion having an overall arched pattern.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
6 . The prosthesis according to claim 5 wherein the ribs of the anchor portion of the armature have a plurality of branches adapted to extend in an endocardial position.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
7 . The prosthesis according to claim 6 wherein the ribs of the anchor portion of the armature have a convex portion that is adapted to position astride a valve annulus site.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
8 . The prosthesis according to claim 6 wherein the ribs of the anchor portion of the armature include, respectively, a first branch and a second branch adapted to extend, respectively, in a distal position and a proximal position with respect to a valve annulus site.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
9 . The prosthesis according to claim 6 wherein the ribs of the anchor portion of the armature are grouped together into three sets, the sets being spaced generally equidistant about a circumference of the armature.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
10 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the support portion of the armature includes support ribs that are able to support the prosthetic valve leaflets in a commissural position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
11 . The prosthesis according to claim 10 wherein the support ribs are grouped together into three sets.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
12 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein a proximal portion of the set of leaflets includes, an apron-like portion that is able to extend in an endocardial site.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
13 . The prosthesis according to claim 12 wherein the anchor portion of the armature includes branches that are shaped to support the apron-like portion.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
14 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the armature is obtained from a tubular element comprising ribs having a general helical conformation.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
15 . The prosthesis according to claim 1 wherein the ribs are made of a superelastic material or a shape-memory material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
112 words
16 . An cardiac-valve prosthesis adapted for percutaneous delivery and implantation at an anatomical valve site having a Valsalva sinus, the prosthesis comprising: an armature adapted for delivery in a radially-compressed configuration and deployment in a radially-expanded configuration at the valve site, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion; and a set of leaflets coupled to the support portion, which can be deployed with the armature in the radially-expanded configuration, wherein the leaflets define a flow duct that is selectably obstructable; wherein the anchor portion includes ribs that in the radially-expanded configuration generally conform to the Valsalva sinus to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at the valve site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
16 . An cardiac-valve prosthesis adapted for percutaneous delivery and implantation at an anatomical valve site having a Valsalva sinus, the prosthesis comprising: an armature adapted for delivery in a radially-compressed configuration and deployment in a radially-expanded configuration at the valve site, the armature including a support portion and an anchor portion; and a set of leaflets coupled to the support portion, which can be deployed with the armature in the radially-expanded configuration, wherein the leaflets define a flow duct that is selectably obstructable; wherein the anchor portion includes ribs that in the radially-expanded configuration generally conform to the Valsalva sinus to enable anchorage of the cardiac-valve prosthesis at the valve site.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
17 . The prosthesis according to claim 16 wherein the anchor portion and the support portion of the armature are structurally distinct from one another.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
18 . The prosthesis according to claim 16 wherein the anchor portion and the support portion of the armature form different parts of a single structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
19 . The prosthesis according to claim 16 wherein the ribs are made from Nitinol.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
20 . The prosthesis according to claim 19 wherein the ribs are shaped to generally conform to the Valsalva sinus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
21 . The prosthesis according to claim 20 wherein the ribs are shaped to apply a non-traumatic amount of stress to the Valsalva sinus.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
22 . The prosthesis according to claim 17 wherein the ribs include a proximal portion generally shaped to conform to an intraventricular portion of the valve annulus.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
23 . The prosthesis according to claim 17 wherein the anchor portion includes three sets of ribs, the ribs spaced circumferentially about the armature such that each set of ribs is adapted to generally conform to each or three corresponding Valsalva sinuses.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
24 . The prosthesis according to claim 16 wherein the ribs of the anchor portion of the armature have a convex portion that, in a pre-stressed condition, is shaped to position astride a valve annulus site.