Methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve

Abstract

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an anchor having an expandable braid. In some embodiments, the expandable braid is fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the expandable braid comprises at least one turn feature. The anchor and the valve preferably are configured for endovascular delivery and deployment.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. Ser. No. 10 / 746,280, filed Dec. 23, 2003.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Heart valve surgery is used to repair or replace diseased heart valves. Valve surgery is an open-heart procedure conducted under general anesthesia. An incision is made through the patient's sternum (sternotomy), and the patient's heart is stopped while blood flow is rerouted through a heart-lung bypass machine. [0003] Valve replacement may be indicated when there is a narrowing of the native heart valve, commonly referred to as stenosis, or when the native valve leaks or regurgitates. When replacing the valve, the native valve is excised and replaced with either a biologic or a mechanical valve. Mechanical valves require lifelong anticoagulant medication to prevent blood clot formation, and clicking of the valve often may be heard through the chest. Biologic tissue valves typically do not require such medication. Tissue va...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0011] The present invention relates to an apparatus for replacing a patient's native heart valve. The apparatus comprises an anchor having an expandable braid adapted for endovascular delivery. The anchor is further adapted for expansion via active foreshortening at an anchor site within the native valve. The apparatus also includes a replacement valve adapted to be secured within the patient. In some embodiments, the anchor braid is further adapted to remain substantially undeformed in response to a pressure up to 0.5 atm or 2 atm directed substantially radially inward toward the central axis. In some embodiments, the anchor braid comprises

Problems solved by technology

Valve replacement surgery is a highly invasive operation with significant concomitant risk.

Risks include bleeding, infection, stroke, heart attack, arrhythmia, renal failure, adverse reactions to the anesthesia medications, as well as sudden death.

Some self-expanding valve anchors have had very poor accuracy in deployment, however.

The stent often jumps to another position once released, making it impossible to know where the ends of the stent will be after release with respect to the native valve, the coronary ostia and the mitral valve.

Due to the jumping action of some self-expanding anchors, and because the replacement valve is often not fully functional before final deployment, visualization of valve function and position prior to final and irreversible deployment is often impossible with these systems.

Another drawback of prior art self-expanding replacement heart

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