Prosthetic heart valve leaflet commissure assemblies and methods
Inventors
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12727994-B1
Publication Date
2026-09-08
Expiration Date
Abstract
A prosthetic heart valve can comprise an annular frame and a leaflet assembly. The frame can be radially expandable and compressible between a radially compressed state and a radially expanded state. The leaflet assembly can comprise a plurality of leaflets coupled to each other to form commissures, which can be coupled to the frame using a plurality of commissure attachment members. The commissure attachment members can be mounted on respective commissure support portions for axial sliding movement between the commissure attachment members and the commissure support portions when the frame is radially compressed and expanded.
Core Innovation
The invention is a prosthetic heart valve with a radially compressible and expandable annular frame, leaflets, and commissure attachment elements. Paired commissure tabs are connected to the attachment elements, which slide axially relative to commissure support portions or actuator members as the frame expands and compresses. In the claimed arrangements, the attachment elements are retained at pivot joints of the frame.
The provided summary identifies leaflet-tab stretching or slack during frame expansion and compression as the problem addressed, and states that sliding attachment elements help preserve commissure height. The partial content does not include a background section, so no further problem statement from that section is available. Some claimed arrangements also specify an inner skirt stitched to the leaflets and frame at locations associated with the pivot joints.
Claims Coverage
The claim coverage encompasses three inventive features across independent claims 1, 10, and 16. Each claim covers a prosthetic heart valve with a compressible and expandable frame, leaflets, and commissure attachment elements that slide axially during frame expansion and compression, while providing distinct arrangements for retaining the attachment elements.
Sliding commissure attachments retained at intermediate pivot joints
Claim 1 covers commissure attachment elements slidably mounted on commissure support portions that are first members of actuators. Each attachment element connects to a third pivot joint positioned axially between the first and second pivot joints, and is retained against axial movement relative to the third pivot joint as the frame expands and compresses.
Window-frame attachments retained by pivot pins
Claim 10 covers commissure attachment elements slidably mounted on actuator first members and retained by pins at pivot joints. Each attachment element has a commissure window frame portion that retains a pair of commissure tabs and two free end portions disposed on the pin at the corresponding pivot joint.
Sliding commissure attachments with skirt stitching aligned to pivot joints
Claim 16 covers commissure attachment elements slidably mounted on actuator first members and retained by pins at pivot joints. It also specifies an inner skirt connected to the frame, leaflet cusp edges stitched to the skirt along a scallop line with peaks at those pivot joints, and the skirt outflow edge stitched to struts forming the pivot joints.
The three independent claims cover sliding commissure attachments in a compressible and expandable prosthetic heart valve, with different claimed arrangements for actuator supports, pivot-pin retention, and skirt stitching.
Stated Advantages
The sliding attachment elements help preserve commissure height and avoid leaflet-tab stretching or slack as the frame expands or compresses.
Documented Applications
A prosthetic heart valve with an expandable and compressible frame and leaflets.
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