Other

Shelhigh, Inc.

Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Edwards Lifesciences Cardiaq LLC

Kedma, Incorporated

Shlomo Gabbay

Robert W Frater

A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a collapsible punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

Devices and methods for a totally percutaneous collapsible aortic punch

A method of crimping and loading prosthetic heart valves comprises folding a crimping sheet to form a spiral wrapped around a heart valve; manually rolling and tightening the spiral to compress the valve inside the spiral; inserting the tightened spiral wrapped around the valve into a cannula; and displacing the valve out of the tightened spiral and into the cannula. A kit for crimping and loading the valve into a delivery device comprises a crimping sheet foldable to form a spiral wrapped around the valve, the spiral manually rollable and tightenable to compress the valve wrapped inside the spiral, so that the tightened spiral is slidably insertable into a lumen of a cannula for delivering the valve; and a plunger sized for insertion into the tightened spiral to displace the heart valve out of the spiral and into the lumen of the cannula.

Method and device for crimping and loading heart valve

A method for implanting a heart valve into a patient's heart can include inserting the heart valve prosthesis into a barrel of an implanter apparatus. An opening is created in muscle tissue of the patient's heart to provide a substantially direct path that extends from the opening to a desired implantation site in the heart. A length of the barrel is inserted through the opening in the tissue such that an end of the barrel and the opening are along the direct path to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is advanced through the barrel to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is positioned at the desired implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis can be expanded at the desired implantation site from the reduced cross-sectional dimension toward the expanded cross-sectional dimension.

Method for direct implantation of a heart valve prosthesis

An apparatus and method for mitigating prolapsed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a contact member and an elongated rod that can be used to hold the contact member in position for coapting with a patient's native leaflets. A similarly configured sizing apparatus can also be used to facilitate implantation.

Beating heart buttress and implantation method to prevent prolapse of a heart valve

A heart valve prosthesis has a supported valve including a biological valve portion mounted within a support structure. The supported valve has inflow and outflow ends spaced axially apart from each other. A fixation support member includes an inflow portion that extends from a radially inner contact surface of the fixation support member radially outwardly and axially in a direction of the inflow end of the supported valve. An outflow portion of the fixation support member extends from the radially inner contact surface radially outwardly and axially in a direction away from the inflow portion of the fixation support member. The radially inner contact surface is attached to a radially outer surface of the supported valve adjacent the inflow end of the supported valve.

Heart valve prosthesis and method of implantation thereof

A method of implanting a heart valve prosthesis is disclosed. A valve is mounted within a support apparatus that is deformable between an expanded and a reduced cross-sectional condition. The prosthesis can be implanted into a patient's heart, such as during a direct vision procedure through a generally tubular implantation apparatus that maintains the prosthesis in its reduced cross-sectional condition until discharged from the tubular apparatus at a desired implantation site.

Method of implantation of a heart valve prosthesis through a tubular catheter

A heart valve prosthesis and method of implanting the prosthesis are disclosed. A valve is mounted within a support apparatus that is deformable between a first condition and a second condition. The prosthesis has a cross-sectional dimension in the second condition that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the supported valve when in first condition. The prosthesis can be implanted into a patient's heart, such as during a direct vision procedure through a tubular implantation apparatus that maintains the prosthesis in its second condition until discharged from the tubular apparatus.

Implantation system for delivery of a heart valve prosthesis

A sizing apparatus can include a contact member having a curved contact surface, the contact surface extending in a substantially convex shape from a proximal end to a distal end along a direction that lies in a same plane as a first axis, the contact surface extending in a substantially concave shape between spaced apart first and second side edges along a direction that lies in a plane that is substantially transverse to the first axis. The sizing apparatus can also include an arm extending from the contact member substantially parallel to the first axis. A flange may also be provided to facilitate use of the sizing apparatus.

Sizing apparatus

A method for helping improve operation of a heart valve includes implanting an apparatus at an annulus of a heart valve, such that one or more leaflets of the patient's heart valve the can move into and out of engagement with a portion of the implanted apparatus and thereby help control blood flow relative to the apparatus and heart valve.

Method for helping improve operation of a heart valve

An approach is disclosed for improving ventricular function of a patient's heart. According to one embodiment, the system includes a pouch that defines a chamber dimensioned and configured to simulate at least a portion of a heart chamber. The pouch has a sidewall portion extending from an inflow annulus and terminating in a closed distal end spaced apart from the inflow annulus. A generally cylindrical outflow portion extends from the sidewall portion of the pouch and terminating in an outflow annulus thereof to provide for flow of fluid from the chamber through the outflow annulus. A valve is operatively associated with the inflow annulus of the pouch to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of fluid through the inflow annulus and into the chamber.

System and method for improving ventricular function

A sizing apparatus and a method for ascertaining a size for a cardiac prosthesis are disclosed. Specifically, the sizing is implemented by positioning a contact member at a patient's heart valve for engagement by one or more viable leaflets of the patient's valve. The size is determined based on the engagement between the contact member and the leaflet (or leaflets) of the patient's valve.

Method of determining size of cardiac prosthesis

An apparatus is disclosed for supporting a heart valve at an annulus of an implantation site. The apparatus includes a base portion operative to maintain a circumferential dimension thereof. A plurality of fingers extend axially and radially outwardly from the first end of the support element. A heart valve can be located within the apparatus to provide a prosthesis that can be suturelessly implanted at an annulus of a patient.

Support apparatus and heart valve prosthesis for sutureless implantation

A heart valve prosthesis includes a valve member having an inflow end, an outflow end, and a generally cylindrical sidewall portion extending between the inflow end and the outflow end. The valve member includes at least one leaflet moveable relative to the sidewall portion to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of fluid through the valve member. A support of a substantially flexible material positioned is around the sidewall portion. A strip of pliant material is provided around valve member intermediate the inflow end and the outflow end of the valve member in a generally overlying relationship with the support. A covering is provided over a radially outer exposed surface of at least the strip.

Low profile heart valve prosthesis

An apparatus helps improve operation of a heart valve. The apparatus includes an arcuate base portion having a central axis and a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion. The buttress has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The second surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The buttress permits flow of blood adjacent both the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress.

Implantable cardiac prosthesis for mitigating prolapse of a heart valve

A valvular prosthesis and method of using the prosthesis are disclosed. A valve apparatus is located within a stent apparatus, such that the prosthesis is deformable between a first condition and a second condition, in which the prosthesis has a reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to the first condition, whereby implantation of the prosthesis is facilitated when in the second condition.

Growing community of inventors

Short Hills, NJ, United States of America

Shlomo Gabbay