Stent-valves for valve replacement and associated methods and systems for surgery

摘要

Stent-valves (e.g., single-stent-valves and double-stent-valves), associated methods and systems for their delivery via minimally-invasive surgery, and guide-wire compatible closure devices for sealing access orifices are provided.

主权项

1. A cardiac stent-valve delivery system comprising:
a stent-valve having a proximal section and at least one attachment element at a distal section and the stent-valve configured to be expandable between a first constrained, collapsed configuration and a second unconstrained expanded configuration; a first assembly comprising an outer sheath and a guide wire tube; a tip at a distal end of the delivery system, for passing a guide wire through the length of the delivery system and out of the tip via the guide wire tubing, the distal end of the delivery system configured for introduction in a patient's body along the guide wire so that the tip at the distal end passes through a failed valve at an implantation site for the stent-valve; and a second assembly comprising a stent holder configured for removable attachment to the at least one attachment element of the stent-valve, the stent-valve positioned over the guide wire tube of the first assembly and having the proximal section arranged toward a proximal end of the delivery system, and the distal section arranged toward the distal end of the delivery system, wherein the first assembly and the second assembly are configured for relative movement with respect to one another in order to transition from a closed position to an open position, such that in the closed position, the outer sheath encompasses and constrains an entirety of the stent-valve in the first constrained, collapsed configuration, in the open position the outer sheath does not constrain the stent-valve and the stent-valve is released and detaches from the stent holder and expands to the second unconstrained expanded configuration, and relative movement between the first assembly and the second assembly is configured such that upon transition from the closed position to the open position, the outer sheath is translated in a distal direction such that the proximal section of the stent-valve is released prior to release of the distal section of the stent-valve.