Medtronic, Inc.

Billie J Millwee

Janice Lynn Shay

Carol Elsa Eberhardt

Mark J Capps

Debra A Taitague

Cynthia T Clague

Joseph C Morrow

Jerald Lamont Redmond

Ana Menk

Alexander J Hill

Mark J Dolan

Carolyn C Majkrzak

Tara S Kupumbati

Melissa R Young

Faisal Kalam

Luis A Salazar

Arin N Holecek

Christopher G Toomes

Cynthia H Chiu

Tom Hessler

Thao M Nguyen

Thomas M Hessler

Mark J Capp

A surgical sutureless valve that is attached to a stent frame for delivery to a location in a patient using percutaneous implantation devices and methods.

Stented prosthetic heart valves

A stented valve having at least one leaflet made of pericardium or other material having a relatively thin profile at the annulus. The leaflets are attached via chords to a stent frame, where the chords are positioned to mimic the native valve anatomy and functionality. In particular, the valves of one exemplary embodiment of the invention are sized to replace a mitral valve and therefore the chords are arranged to prevent prolapse of the leaflets into the atrium. The stented valve has a relatively short height at its annulus due to the positioning of the chords. In addition, the stented valve is capable of being crimped to a small enough size that it can be delivered to the implantation site via transcatheter delivery systems and methods.

Prosthetic heart valve devices and methods of valve replacement

A multi-leaflet valve, which includes at least two leaflets, an outer tube, and a seam protector for each seam. Each seam protector is positioned to be in contact with a portion of the outer tube, with tube portions and leaflet ends being positioned between adjacent seam protection pieces. The seam protectors provide a lower stress surface about which the leaflets can bend or flex during their opening and closing. The seam protectors may include an enlarged end portion with an extending straight surface, an inverted U-shaped structure, or a sinusoidal-shaped structure, for example. The valve can further be provided with a seam cover or protector that is stitched onto the seam allowance of the layers of one or more of the seams. The seams can be provided with one or more inserts to fill spaces between adjacent tissue layers and create tension in certain material sheets.

Tissue attachment devices and methods for prosthetic heart valves

A method of forming a leaflet of a prosthetic valve includes placing a first piece of material on a working surface. A leaflet mold is placed on the first piece of material, and provides a outer peripheral shape comprising a curved portion. A second piece of material is placed over the first piece and the leaflet mold. The first and second pieces of material are stitched to one another along at least a portion of the curved portion of the leaflet mold. The leaflet mold is removed from first and second pieces of material.

Prosthetic heart valve, prosthetic heart valve assembly and method for making same

A stented valve of two or more leaflets made of pericardium or other material having a relatively thin profile at the annulus. The leaflet surfaces are attached via chords to a stent frame, where the chords are positioned to mimic the native valve anatomy and functionality. In particular, the valves of one exemplary embodiment of the invention are sized to replace a mitral valve and therefore the chords are arranged to prevent prolapse of the leaflets into the atrium. The stented valve has a relatively short height at its annulus due to the positioning of the chords. In addition, the stented valve is capable of being crimped to a small enough size that it can be delivered to the implantation site via transcatheter delivery systems and methods.

A mold assembly for forming a prosthetic valve having at least one leaflet, which includes a first plate having a first side from which at least one leaflet mold extends and a planar portion adjacent the at least one leaflet mold, wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness, and a second plate having at least one mold opening and a planar portion adjacent the at least one mold opening, wherein each mold opening is sized and shaped to correspond with one of the leaflet molds of the first plate, and wherein the planar portion has multiple access holes through its thickness. The second plate is positionable relative to the first plate so that each of the leaflet molds of the first plate extend at least partially through one of the mold openings of the second plate.

A method and apparatus for limiting longitudinal stretch during fixation of a harvested aortic root including valve leaflets and the product produced. The apparatus includes an inflow plug inserted into the inflow section of the aortic root and having an apertured tube or cannula extending through the valve leaflets to an outflow plug inserted into the outflow section of the aortic root. Apertures in the tube are located on either side of the valve leaflets and the tube is coupled to a fluid inlet, preferably located on the outflow plug. The outflow plug is slidable relative to the tube and is provided with an engagement mechanism such as a setscrew for fixing the location of the outflow plug relative to the tube and the inflow plug. After assembly of the aortic root to the apparatus, the fluid inlet is coupled to a source of defined pressure and the root is inflated. The outflow plug is then fixed relative to the tube to define the maximum elongation of the root and fixative is then delivered to the interior of the root via the apertured tube.

Heart valve fixation process and apparatus

Storage container for a heart valve

Growing community of inventors

Fullerton, CA, United States of America

Billie J Millwee