Methods for controlled heart valve delivery
Inventors
Desrosiers, John J. • White, Amanda Kristine Anderson • Bialas, Michael R. • Madrid, Gilbert • Popp, Michael J. • Nguyen, Thanh V. • Liu, Jun • Metchik, Asher L. • Patel, Darshin S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12440331-B2
Publication Date
2025-10-14
Expiration Date
Abstract
A prosthetic implant delivery assembly includes a prosthetic implant and a catheter. The prosthetic implant includes a plurality of apices with apertures. Each apex of the plurality of apices is circumferentially-spaced apart relative to an adjacent apex. The catheter includes a plurality of arms and a plurality of locking elements. Each of the arms includes an opening configured to receive a respective apex of the prosthetic implant. Each of the locking elements is configured to extend through the aperture of a respective apex of the prosthetic implant. A length of at least one of the locking elements is different than a length of another locking element such that when the prosthetic implant is coupled to the catheter by the locking elements, a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic implant can be held at a tilted position relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Core Innovation
The document describes transcatheter prosthetic implant delivery assemblies in which a prosthetic implant includes a plurality of apices with apertures, the apices being circumferentially spaced relative to adjacent apices. The prosthetic implant is coupled to an elongate catheter by structures that extend through the apertures of respective apices, such that a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic implant is held at a tilted position relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter. The tilted position is produced by construction differences among the coupling structures, including a length difference between locking elements and a length difference between openings configured to receive the apices.
In one implementation, the elongate catheter includes a plurality of arms and a plurality of locking elements, where each arm includes an opening configured to receive a respective apex and each locking element extends through the aperture of a respective apex. At least one locking element has a different length than another locking element, so that when the prosthetic implant is coupled to the catheter by the locking elements, the prosthetic implant longitudinal axis is held in a tilted position relative to the catheter longitudinal axis. The document further describes axially moveable locking elements that extend in a first position and retract in a second position to releasably couple and release the apices.
In an alternative embodiment, radially expandable arms extend axially from a distal end of a shaft, each arm including a hook portion that extends radially inwardly and is configured to releasably engage a respective aperture of the prosthetic implant. An expansion element disposed on a distal end portion of the shaft and movable relative to the arms is configured to disengage the hook portions from the prosthetic implant. The document further describes relative rotational and axial motion between the shaft and the expansion element, as well as a frusto-conical expansion element, to drive arm expansion and disengagement.
Claims Coverage
The independent claims identified are clm-00001, clm-00013, and clm-00020. Across these independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on coupling a prosthetic implant to an elongate catheter while enabling a tilted or pivoted implant longitudinal axis relative to the catheter, with coupling and release features based on relative element lengths, pivotability, and arm/opening or hook/disengagement geometry.
Tilting via differing locking-element lengths
A prosthetic implant delivery assembly comprising a prosthetic implant having plurality of apices with apertures, wherein each apex is circumferentially spaced apart relative to an adjacent apex, and an elongate catheter having a plurality of arms and a plurality of locking elements, where each arm comprises an opening configured to receive a respective apex, each locking element extends through the aperture of a respective apex, and a length of at least one locking element is different than a length of another locking element such that when the prosthetic implant is coupled to the catheter by the locking elements, a longitudinal axis of the prosthetic implant can be held at a tilted position relative to a longitudinal axis of the catheter.
Radially expandable arms with hook engagement and disengagement by an expansion element
A prosthetic implant delivery assembly comprising a prosthetic implant having circumferentially spaced apices around a first end portion, wherein at least some apices comprise an aperture; and an elongate catheter comprising radially expandable arms extending axially from a distal end of a shaft, each arm having a hook portion extending radially inwardly and configured to releasably engage a respective aperture, a shaft disposed radially within and movable relative to the catheter, and an expansion element disposed on a distal end portion of the shaft and radially inwardly relative to the arms, wherein the expansion element is movable relative to the arms to disengage the hook portions from the prosthetic implant.
Releasably and pivotably coupled distal apertured apices via arm openings of consistent length
A prosthetic implant delivery assembly comprising a prosthetic implant having a longitudinal axis extending from a first end portion to a second end portion, wherein the first end portion comprises a plurality of apices circumferentially spaced apart and at least some apices comprise an aperture; and an elongate catheter having a longitudinal axis and a plurality of arms extending axially from a distal end, wherein each arm comprises an opening at a distal end configured to receive a respective apex, and at least one opening has a different length than another opening, wherein the first end portion of the prosthetic implant is releasably and pivotably coupled to the arms such that the prosthetic implant can pivot about the arms so the longitudinal axis is tilted relative to the longitudinal axis of the catheter, and wherein a length of each opening is the same when the prosthetic implant is coupled to the arms and when the prosthetic implant is released from the arms.
Across the independent claims, the document provides claim coverage for delivery assemblies that hold a prosthetic implant longitudinal axis at a tilted position relative to a catheter longitudinal axis via differing locking-element lengths, releasably engage implant apertures using radially expandable arms with inward hook portions and disengage the hooks using a movable expansion element, and pivot a releasably coupled prosthetic implant about catheter arms to produce a tilted longitudinal axis, while maintaining consistent arm-opening lengths through coupled versus released states.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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