Stent features for collapsible prosthetic heart valves

摘要

A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition. The stent includes a plurality of distal cells, a plurality of proximal cells, a plurality of support struts coupling the proximal cells to the distal cells, and at least one support post connected to a plurality of proximal cells. The proximal cells are longitudinally spaced apart from the distal cells. Various strut configurations and connections of the struts to the proximal cells and of the proximal cells to the support post improve stent flexibility and reduce stress in the valve leaflets.

主权项

1. A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a stent having a proximal end, a distal end, an expanded condition and a collapsed condition, the stent including:
a series of proximal cells at the proximal end;a series of distal cells at the distal end, the distal cells being longitudinally spaced apart from the proximal cells;a plurality of support struts, each support strut having a first end connected to the series of proximal cells and a second end connected to the series of distal cells; andat least one support post connected to a multiplicity of the proximal cells, the multiplicity of proximal cells being connected to the support post at three spaced positions along a length of the support post; and a valve structure connected to the at least one support post.