Articulated commissure valve stents and methods

摘要

A support structure includes strut members interconnected by rotatable joints to form a series of linked scissor mechanisms. The structure can be remotely actuated to compress or expand its shape by adjusting the scissor joints within a range of motion. In particular, the support structure can be repositioned within the body lumen or retrieved from the lumen. The support structure can be employed to introduce and support a prosthetic valve within a body lumen.

主权项

1. A biocompatible articulated support structure, comprising a tubular support body with a proximal opening, a distal opening, and a lumen and a longitudinal axis between the proximal and distal openings;
wherein the tubular support body comprises a plurality of discrete struts coupled by a plurality of rotatable hinge joints, each rotatable hinge joint comprising an axis of rotation with a radial orientation; wherein the plurality of rotatable hinge joints comprise: a set of proximal rotatable hinge joints configured to reside in a proximal plane with the proximal opening; a set of distal rotatable hinge joints configured to reside in a distal plane with the distal opening; a first set of middle rotatable hinge joints, located between the proximal plane and the distal plane; and at least one commissural point hinge joint distal to the distal plane; wherein the plurality of discrete struts and the rotatable hinge joints therebetween intrinsically provide a self-expansion force; and wherein the plurality of discrete struts comprise a plurality of inner struts and a plurality of outer struts.