Medtronic, Inc.

St. Jude Medical, Inc.

Medtronics, Inc.

Jack D Lemmon

Timothy R Ryan

Joseph C Morrow

Keith M Johnson

Mark T Stewart

Timothy G Laske

James R Keogh

David E Francischelli

Carol Elsa Eberhardt

James R Skarda

Timothy J Ryan

Alexander J Hill

Jose M Revuelta

XueMei Li

José M Revuelta

A prosthetic heart valve for functionally replacing a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve is disclosed. The prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible support structure with leaflets and anchors mounted to the support structure. The support structure also includes an inflow end and an outflow end. The anchors include a radially outwardly extending first anchor proximate to the inflow end and a radially outwardly extending second anchor proximate to the outflow end. The first anchor includes a first configuration and the second anchor includes a second configuration where the first configuration is different than the second configuration. The previously implanted prosthetic heart valve serves as a platform for securement of the prosthetic heart valve to the patient's native tissue.

Replacement prosthetic heart valve, system and method of implant

A method for treating a human patient includes emitting ultrasound energy from an ultrasound transducer positioned remotely from target tissue of the patient. The ultrasound transducer is positioned at a desired location relative to the patient and target tissue using location and imaging techniques. The method further includes focusing the ultrasound energy such that one or more focal points are directed to the target tissue of the patient and ablating the target tissue at each focal point. The target tissue is ablated via the focused ultrasound energy without ablating non-target tissue through which the ultrasound energy passes between the ultrasound transducer and the one or more focal points.

Method for ablating target tissue of a patient

A method for determining whether a medical device is appropriate for implanting into a cardiovascular conduit of a patient is disclosed comprising imaging a first section of the conduit of the patient into which the medical device is to be implanted during a first expanded state occurring at a first portion of a heart rhythm; reimaging the first section of the conduit of the patient during a first contracted state occurring at a second portion of the heart rhythm; deriving, from the imaging and the reimaging, dimensional characteristics of the first section of the conduit; and determining whether the medical device is appropriate for implantation in the first section of conduit based on the derived dimensional characteristics. The first section of the conduit includes a sizing device providing a selected radial force on the patient.

Image-guided heart valve placement

A stent cover for enclosing a compressible stent during a stent crimping process, the stent cover having an outer sheath with a proximal end, a distal end, an end portion at the distal end of the sheath having a first diameter, and a stent-retaining portion adjacent to the end portion and having an uncompressed diameter that is larger than the first diameter of the end portion for retaining a stent in its uncompressed condition.

Sterile cover for compressible stents used in percutaneous device delivery systems

A heart valve annulus sizer is provided for measuring a valve to be fitted with an annuloplasty ring. The sizer may include a body having a peripheral portion defining an opening, at least one rib disposed within the opening and dividing the opening into at least a first opening and a second opening, and an anchor disposed on and projecting from the body. The sizer may include a length of suture connected to the body. The anchor may include an aperture adapted to receive the length of suture. A method of using the sizer is provided that includes grasping the sizer with an instrument and positioning the sizer adjacent to a valve into a position suitable to allow for measurement of the valve.

Robotic heart valve annulus sizer

A method of functionally replacing a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The method includes positioning a replacement prosthetic heart valve within an internal region defined by the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement prosthetic heart valve is then physically docked to the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. With this technique, the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve serves as a platform for securement of the replacement prosthetic heart valve to the patient's native tissue.

Prosthetic heart valve for replacing previously implanted heart valve

A device and method for valve replacement or valve repair is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding a valve replacement delivery member or a valve repair delivery member within the patient while tracking the position of the delivery member in the patient, positioning the valve replacement member or valve repair member in a desired position to place a valve or repair valve and removing the delivery member from the patient. In one aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous delivery of a heart valve to a predetermined position in the heart of a patient, where the delivery system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous repair of a heart valve in the heart of a patient, where the repair system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a method and device are provided that involve imaging a native root using an interoperative technique, then introducing a device that is easily visualized in a chosen imaging modality.

Method for guiding a medical device

A prosthetic heart valve system including a prosthetic heart valve and a deflection device. The deflection device includes a line and a connector assembly including a tensioning component. The line interconnects and passes through free ends of stent posts associated with the heart valve, and is further connected to the tensioning component. The tensioning component is transitionable to a tensioning state in which the line is tensioned to inwardly deflect the stent posts. In this regard, the tensioning component is self-locking relative to the line in the tensioning state, and an entirety of the line extending distal the tensioning device does not extend beyond a stent portion of the heart valve opposite the stent posts. In a preferred embodiment, a holder body is further included, coupled to the heart valve apart from the deflection device.

Prosthetic heart valve system

A method for evaluating a valve annulus to determine a size of a prosthetic heart valve to be sewn to the valve annulus during heart valve replacement surgery. The prosthetic heart valve includes an annular extension having a first flexibility and a sewing ring having a second flexibility. A flexible sizer body is provided and includes an outer ring and an annular wall coupled to and extending from the outer ring. The annular wall has a flexibility substantially similar to the first flexibility of the annular extension of the prosthetic heart valve. The flexible sizer body is inserted into the valve annulus and a determination made as to fit and conformance. A prosthetic heart valve is selected based on the determination.

Prosthetic heart valve sizer assembly with flexible sizer body

A valve system including an aortic valve and a holder. The holder includes a holder body, which has a central portion, engagable with a holder handle, and downwardly extending leg portions that engage the valve in the areas between the commissure posts. The central portion of the holder further includes a spool located between the commissure posts, rotatable by an attached handle. Rotation of the spool draws in a tensile member passing through the commissure posts, drawing the commissure posts inward toward the spool. The tensile member passes through guides formed in the holder, configured such that they define the maximum available inward deflection of the commissure posts at the point at which the portions of the tensile member between the commissure posts assume straight configurations.

Heart valve system

A flexible sizer body for evaluating a valve annulus to determine a size of a prosthetic heart valve to be sewn to the valve annulus during heart valve replacement surgery. The prosthetic heart valve includes an annular extension having a first flexibility and a sewing ring having a second flexibility. The flexible sizer body includes an outer ring and an annular wall coupled to and extending from the outer ring. The annular wall has a flexibility substantially similar to the first flexibility of the annular extension of the prosthetic heart valve.

Growing community of inventors

St. Louis Park, MN, United States of America

Jack D Lemmon