← Back to Patent Explorer
US20070005131A1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Heart valve delivery system

Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp
•
Filing: 2005-06-13
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2025-06-13
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A delivery system for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native valve site within the human vasculature. The prosthetic valve is disposed on a balloon at the end of a balloon catheter. The balloon catheter passes through a delivery sleeve assembly and handle. A pull wire travels from the handle to a distal end of the delivery sleeve assembly. Actuation of the handle pulls on the pull wire, which causes openings in a slotted tube of the delivery sleeve assembly to close, thus causing the delivery sleeve assembly to bend. A stretchable cover is placed over the slotted tube for biasing the steerable catheter toward a straight position. Once advanced to the native valve site, the prosthetic valve is deployed by inflating the balloon.

Inventors

  • 👤 David Taylor

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 04:07
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2427; A61F2/243; A61F2/2433; A61F2/2436; A61F2230/00; A61F2230/0063; A61F2230/0069; A61M; A61M25/00; A61M25/01; A61M25/0105; A61M25/0133; A61M25/0138; A61M25/0147

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
1 . A delivery system, comprising: a tubular sleeve; a selectively steerable section coupled to a distal end of the sleeve; an elongate balloon catheter extending through the sleeve and the steerable section; and a prosthetic valve disposed over an expandable balloon along a distal end portion of the elongate balloon catheter; wherein the sleeve, steerable section, balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are configured for advancement as an single unit through a patient's vasculature and wherein the prosthetic valve is adjacent a distal end portion of the steerable section.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 89 words
1 . A delivery system, comprising: a tubular sleeve; a selectively steerable section coupled to a distal end of the sleeve; an elongate balloon catheter extending through the sleeve and the steerable section; and a prosthetic valve disposed over an expandable balloon along a distal end portion of the elongate balloon catheter; wherein the sleeve, steerable section, balloon catheter and prosthetic valve are configured for advancement as an single unit through a patient's vasculature and wherein the prosthetic valve is adjacent a distal end portion of the steerable section.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
2 . The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve further comprises first and second outer lumens extending along a side of the sleeve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 44 words
3 . The delivery system according to claim 2 wherein a pull wire passes through the first outer lumen, through the steerable section to the distal end portion of the steerable section, and returns through the steerable section and through the second outer lumen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 27 words
4 . The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the steerable section comprises a slotted tube having a first straight position and a second curved position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 35 words
5 . The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the sleeve is formed of a polyether block amide and wherein the sleeve comprises a soft durometer polyether block amide near a distal end thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 31 words
6 . The delivery system according to claim 3 wherein the pull wire is actuated by a rotational handle assembly, wherein the rotational handle assembly is located proximal to the sleeve.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 38 words
7 . The delivery system according to claim 1 wherein the prosthetic valve is located distal to the steerable section such that the distal end portion of the steerable section abuts a proximal end of the prosthetic valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 42 words
8 . The delivery system according to claim 1 further comprising a shroud coupled to the distal end portion of the steerable section and wherein the shroud surrounds at least a portion of the prosthetic valve during advancement through the patient's vasculature.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 112 words
9 . A delivery system, comprising: a delivery sleeve assembly having a main lumen; a slotted tube forming a steerable section of the delivery sleeve assembly, the steerable section having a first configuration wherein the steerable section is substantially straight and a second configuration wherein the steerable section is curved, wherein the steerable section is enveloped by a covering, wherein the covering is stretchable such that it biases the steerable section from the second configuration to the first configuration; and an elongate balloon catheter extending through the main lumen of the delivery sleeve assembly, wherein a prosthetic valve is mounted to a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 112 words
9 . A delivery system, comprising: a delivery sleeve assembly having a main lumen; a slotted tube forming a steerable section of the delivery sleeve assembly, the steerable section having a first configuration wherein the steerable section is substantially straight and a second configuration wherein the steerable section is curved, wherein the steerable section is enveloped by a covering, wherein the covering is stretchable such that it biases the steerable section from the second configuration to the first configuration; and an elongate balloon catheter extending through the main lumen of the delivery sleeve assembly, wherein a prosthetic valve is mounted to a balloon located at a distal end of the balloon catheter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 19 words
10 . The delivery system according to claim 9 wherein the cover comprises a soft durometer polyether block amide.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 39 words
11 . The delivery system according to claim 9 wherein the steerable section is acted upon by a pull wire which is actuated by a rotator handle which is mounted to a proximal end of the delivery sleeve assembly.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 20 words
12 . The delivery system according to claim 9 wherein the prosthetic valve is placed distal to the steerable section.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 36 words
13 . The delivery system according to claim 9 wherein the prosthetic valve is placed inside a shroud which is located distal to the steerable section and comprises a distal portion of the delivery sleeve assembly.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 166 words
14 . A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising: mounting a prosthetic valve over a balloon on a balloon catheter; placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire running along the length of the delivery sleeve assembly and attached to a moving member of a handle; tracking the prosthetic valve to the native valve site by pushing the valve through iliac and femoral arteries of the patient, over an aortic arch, and to the native valve site, whereby the moving member pulls the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a first direction, causing the steerable section to bend, and whereby the moving member releases the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a second direction, allowing the rigidity of the delivery sleeve assembly to straighten the steerable section; and inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 166 words
14 . A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising: mounting a prosthetic valve over a balloon on a balloon catheter; placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire running along the length of the delivery sleeve assembly and attached to a moving member of a handle; tracking the prosthetic valve to the native valve site by pushing the valve through iliac and femoral arteries of the patient, over an aortic arch, and to the native valve site, whereby the moving member pulls the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a first direction, causing the steerable section to bend, and whereby the moving member releases the pull wire when the handle is rotated in a second direction, allowing the rigidity of the delivery sleeve assembly to straighten the steerable section; and inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 26 words
15 . The method according to claim 14 and further comprising pushing through hardened leaflets of the native valve site while the steerable section is bent.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 33 words
16 . The method according to claim 14 and further comprising distally advancing the balloon catheter relative to the delivery sleeve assembly until the prosthetic valve is located within the native valve site
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 20 words
17 . The method according to claim 14 wherein the prosthetic valve comprises a stent portion supporting a valve structure.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
18 . The method according to claim 17 wherein an outer surface of the stent is substantially exposed during advancement over the aortic arch.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 34 words
19 . The method according to claim 18 wherein a distal end of the steerable section abuts a proximal end of the stent portion while tracking the prosthetic valve to the native valve site.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 115 words
20 . A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising: disposing an expandable prosthetic valve over a balloon along a distal end portion of a balloon catheter; placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire; advancing the prosthetic valve and delivery sleeve assembly toward the native valve site substantially as a single unit while selectively adjusting the curvature of the steerable section to facilitate advancement; advancing the prosthetic valve out of the delivery sleeve assembly and into the native valve site; and inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 115 words
20 . A method of delivering a prosthetic valve to a native valve site of a patient, comprising: disposing an expandable prosthetic valve over a balloon along a distal end portion of a balloon catheter; placing the balloon catheter inside a delivery sleeve assembly having a steerable section which is actuated by a pull wire; advancing the prosthetic valve and delivery sleeve assembly toward the native valve site substantially as a single unit while selectively adjusting the curvature of the steerable section to facilitate advancement; advancing the prosthetic valve out of the delivery sleeve assembly and into the native valve site; and inflating the balloon to deploy the prosthetic valve at the native valve site.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3587115A Cited
US3671979A Cited
US4592340A Cited
US4586923A Cited
US4733665B1 Cited
US4733665A Cited
US4733665C2 Cited
US4777951A Cited
US4796629A Cited
US5089015A Cited
US5059177A Cited
US5411552A Cited
US5085635A Cited
US6168614B1 Cited
US20030069492A1 Cited
US5397351A Cited
US6866650B2 Cited
US5332402A Cited
US5545209A Cited
US6872223B2 Cited
US6302906B1 Cited
US5782809A Cited
US5554185A Cited
US5599305A Cited
US5591195A Cited
US20040167573A1 Cited
US5855601A Cited
US5968068A Cited
US5749890A Cited
US6605112B1 Cited
US6908481B2 Cited
US20010007956A1 Cited
US20030109924A1 Cited
US5957949A Cited
US6245102B1 Cited
US5855597A Cited
US20020029014A1 Cited
US5925063A Cited
US6569196B1 Cited
US20010002445A1 Cited
US6059809A Cited
US6042589A Cited
US6786925B1 Cited
US6469434B1 Cited
US20050049696A1 Cited
US6425916B1 Cited
US20040193261A1 Cited
US6790229B1 Cited
US6299637B1 Cited
US6383171B1 Cited
US20040093060A1 Cited
US20040210304A1 Cited
US6458153B1 Cited
US6989028B2 Cited
US6797002B2 Cited
US6454799B1 Cited
US20040167620A1 Cited
US20020032481A1 Cited
US20050010287A1 Cited
US20020138138A1 Cited
US20040111096A1 Cited
US20050131438A1 Cited
US20050043790A1 Cited
US20050033398A1 Cited
US20030050694A1 Cited
US20030065386A1 Cited
US20040039436A1 Cited
US6893460B2 Cited
US6730118B2 Cited
US20050113910A1 Cited
US20040215333A1 Cited
US20030199963A1 Cited
US20040097788A1 Cited
US20040122516A1 Cited
US20040186563A1 Cited
US20050107871A1 Cited
US20070027518A1 Cited
US20040210307A1 Cited
US20060009841A1 Cited
US20070016286A1 Cited
US20050060029A1 Cited
US20050049692A1 Cited
US20050075731A1 Cited
US20050075584A1 Cited
US20050075719A1 Cited
US20050075724A1 Cited
US20050096738A1 Cited
US20050075717A1 Cited
US20050075712A1 Cited
US20050075730A1 Cited
US20050187616A1 Cited
US20050203618A1 Cited
US20050137686A1 Cited
US20050143809A1 Cited
US20050137695A1 Cited
US20050137692A1 Cited
US20050137701A1 Cited
US20050203549A1 Cited
US20050222674A1 Cited
US20060004439A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag