METHODS OF IDENTIFYING AND REPLACING IMPLANTED HEART VALVES

摘要

A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and for post-implant expansion and having a valve-type indicator thereon visible from outside the body post-implant. The indicator communicates information about the valve, such as the size or orifice diameter of the valve, and/or that the valve has the capacity for post-implant expansion. The indicator can be an alphanumeric symbol or other symbol or combination of symbols that represent information about the characteristics of the valve such as the valve size. The capacity for post-implant expansion facilitates a valve-in-valve procedure, where the valve-type indicator conveys information to the surgeon about whether the implanted valve is suitable for the procedure and informs the choice of the secondary valve.

主权项

1. A method of deploying a second prosthetic heart valve within a first prosthetic heart valve previously implanted in a patient's body, comprising:
reading a valve-type indicator of a first prosthetic heart valve, the valve-type indicator signifying the capability of the first prosthetic heart valve for post-implant expansion of the orifice; selecting a second prosthetic heart valve based on the valve-type indicator; and deploying the second prosthetic heart valve within the first prosthetic heart valve.