US6454799B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Minimally-invasive heart valves and methods of use
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp
•
Filing: 2000-04-06
•
Granted: 2002-09-24
•
Expires: 2020-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Expandable heart valves for minimally invasive valve replacement surgeries are disclosed. In a first embodiment, an expandable pre-assembled heart valve includes a plastically-expandable annular base having plurality of upstanding commissure posts. A tubular flexible member including a prosthetic section and a fabric section is provided, with the prosthetic section being connected to the commissure posts and defining leaflets therebetween, and the fabric section being attached to the annular base. In a second embodiment, an expandable heart valve includes an annular tissue-engaging base and a subassembly having an elastic wireform and a plurality of leaflets connected thereto. The annular base and subassembly are separately stored and connected just prior to delivery to the host annulus. Preferably, the leaflet subassembly is stored in its relaxed configuration to avoid deformation of the leaflets. The expandable heart valves may be implanted using a balloon catheter. Preferably, the leaflets of the heart valves are secured to the commissure regions of the expandable stents using a clamping arrangement to reduce stress.
Inventors
- 👤 Stefan Schreck
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:16
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2427; A61F2/243; A61F2/2433; A61F2/2412; A61F2/2418; A61F2/2436; A61F2/2469; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0008; A61F2220/0016; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
162 words
A prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a support stent including a tubular base along an inflow end and a plurality of generally axially-extending commissure posts disposed evenly around the tubular base on an outflow end thereof, each commissure post having an axial slot, wherein the base is plastically-expandable from a first size adapted for minimally invasive delivery, to a second, functional size that fits within a heart valve annulus; and a flexible tubular member having a prosthetic section attached to the commissure posts so as to define a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets between the posts, and a fabric section connected to the base, and wherein the tubular member is primarily located within the posts except for a plurality of loops that extend outward through each slot on each post, and further including a plurality of inserts sized lager than the slots, each of which insert is captured within a loop extending outward through each slot to retain the loop through the slot.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
162 words
A prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a support stent including a tubular base along an inflow end and a plurality of generally axially-extending commissure posts disposed evenly around the tubular base on an outflow end thereof, each commissure post having an axial slot, wherein the base is plastically-expandable from a first size adapted for minimally invasive delivery, to a second, functional size that fits within a heart valve annulus; and a flexible tubular member having a prosthetic section attached to the commissure posts so as to define a plurality of prosthetic valve leaflets between the posts, and a fabric section connected to the base, and wherein the tubular member is primarily located within the posts except for a plurality of loops that extend outward through each slot on each post, and further including a plurality of inserts sized lager than the slots, each of which insert is captured within a loop extending outward through each slot to retain the loop through the slot.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic section and fabric section are both generally tubular and attached together at a seam.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
The heart valve of claim 2 , wherein the seam is spaced from the outflow end of the tubular base so that only the fabric section of the flexible tubular member contacts the tubular base.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heart valve of claim 2 , wherein the seam is other than circular.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the fabric section of the flexible tubular member attaches along a seam to the outflow end of the tubular base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic section of the flexible tubular member is pericardial tissue.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the commissure posts are integrally formed with the base, the base and commissure posts being initially formed from a flat section of material, wherein the commissure posts initially extend from the inflow end of the base and are bent 180° to extend alongside the base and project beyond the base at the outflow end thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The heart valve of claim 7 , wherein the fabric section of the flexible tubular member extends around the exterior of the tubular base and within spaces created between each of the commissure posts and the tubular base.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
82 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , wherein the commissure posts each comprise: a first axial section extending from the inflow end of the base and spaced radially therefrom; a second axial section defining the outflow extent of the post and a portion of the axial slot, the second section being radially inwardly offset from the first section; and a transition region between the first and second sections, wherein an enlarged portion of the axial slot is defined in the transition region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heart valve of claim 1 , further including a plurality of stitches securing each loop of the flexible tubular member to the corresponding insert.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heart valve of claim 10 , further including stitching securing each insert to the corresponding commissure post of the base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
122 words
A prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a support stent including a tubular base along an inflow end and a plurality of generally axially-extending commissure posts each having an axial slot and being disposed evenly around the tubular base on an outflow end thereof; and a flexible tubular member having an outflow edge, wherein the tubular member is primarily located within the posts except for a plurality of loops that extend outward through each slot on each post, and further including a plurality of inserts sized larger than the slots, each of which insert is captured within a loop extending outward through each slot to retain the loop through the slot, the outflow edge of the tubular member defining a plurality of valve leaflets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
122 words
A prosthetic heart valve, comprising: a support stent including a tubular base along an inflow end and a plurality of generally axially-extending commissure posts each having an axial slot and being disposed evenly around the tubular base on an outflow end thereof; and a flexible tubular member having an outflow edge, wherein the tubular member is primarily located within the posts except for a plurality of loops that extend outward through each slot on each post, and further including a plurality of inserts sized larger than the slots, each of which insert is captured within a loop extending outward through each slot to retain the loop through the slot, the outflow edge of the tubular member defining a plurality of valve leaflets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The heart valve of claim 12 , wherein the tubular base is plastically-expandable from a first size adapted for minimally invasive delivery, to a second, functional size that fits within a heart valve annulus.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
64 words
The heart valve of claim 12 , wherein the commissure posts are integrally formed with the base, the base and commissure posts being initially formed from a flat section of material, wherein the commissure posts initially extend from the inflow end of the base and are bent 180 degrees to extend alongside the base and project beyond the base at the outflow end thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The heart valve of claim 12 , wherein the flexible tubular member has a prosthetic section attached to the commissure posts and a fabric section connected to the base at a seam.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heart valve of claim 15 , wherein the seam is other than circular.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
The heart valve of claim 15 , wherein the fabric section of the flexible tubular member extends around the exterior of the tubular base and attaches along a seam to the outflow end of the tubular base.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heart valve of claim 15 , wherein the prosthetic section of the flexible tubular member is pericardial tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heart valve of claim 12 , further including a plurality of stitches securing each loop of the flexible tubular member to the corresponding insert.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heart valve of claim 19 , further including stitching securing each insert to the corresponding commissure post of the base.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-09-23 | 2006-03-25 | 2006-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-09-23 | 2010-03-25 | 2010-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-09-23 | 2014-03-25 | 2014-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |