Retaining mechanisms for prosthetic valves

摘要

Disclosed herein are representative embodiments of methods, apparatus, and systems used to deliver a prosthetic heart valve to a deficient valve. In one embodiment, for instance, a support member is positioned to at least partially surround the native leaflets of a valve. A locking member is used to couple both ends of the support member, forming a support band. An expandable prosthetic heart valve is delivered into the native heart valve and expanded while the expandable prosthetic valve is at least partially within the support band, thereby causing one or more of the native leaflets of the native heart valve to be frictionally secured between the support band and the expanded prosthetic heart valve.

主权项

1. A delivery system for encircling native leaflets of a heart valve to deliver a support band that at least partially surrounds the native leaflets, the system comprising:
a delivery catheter with a lumen of a first diameter; a precurved catheter with a lumen and an outer diameter that is smaller than the first diameter, the precurved catheter being receivable in the lumen of the delivery catheter and biased to return to a predetermined curved configuration when it is advanced out of an opening in the delivery catheter; a precurved guidewire receivable in the lumen of the precurved catheter, the precurved guidewire being biased to return to a predetermined curved configuration when it is advanced out of the precurved catheter; and a support band that has an elongate support member, the elongate support member having a lumen for receiving the guidewire.