Everting heart valve

摘要

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. The apparatus includes a replacement valve and an expandable anchor configured for endovascular delivery to a vicinity of the patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is adapted to wrap about the anchor, for example, by everting during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the replacement valve is not connected to expandable portions of the anchor. In some embodiments, the anchor is configured for active foreshortening during endovascular deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor includes expandable lip and skirt regions for engaging the patient's heart valve during deployment. In some embodiments, the anchor comprises a braid fabricated from a single strand of wire. In some embodiments, the apparatus includes a lock configured to maintain anchor expansion. The invention also includes methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, wrapping at least a portion of the replacement valve about the anchor, and expanding the anchor to a deployed configuration.

主权项

1. A system for replacing a heart valve, comprising:
an expandable anchor having a collapsed delivery configuration and an expanded configuration, the expandable anchor comprising a distal end; a replacement valve commissure support element attached to the expandable anchor; a commissure portion of a replacement valve leaflet attached to the commissure support element; and a fabric seal at least partially disposed around an exterior portion of the expandable anchor when the anchor is in the expanded configuration, the fabric seal having an undeployed state and a deployed state, wherein in the deployed state the fabric seal comprises flaps that extend into spaces formed by native valve leaflets; wherein a distal end of the replacement valve leaflet is attached to the fabric seal and when the expandable anchor is in the collapsed delivery configuration, the fabric seal extends from the distal end of the replacement valve and back proximally over the expandable anchor, the fabric seal being adapted to prevent blood from flowing between the fabric seal and heart tissue.