Heart valve stents adapted for post-implant expansion
Inventors
Conklin, Brian S. • Zeng, Qinggang
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12740858-B2
Publication Date
2026-09-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A hybrid prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and having a support frame configured to be expanded post implant in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein (a valve-in-valve procedure). The prosthetic heart valve may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally expanded form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon or other mechanical expander. An inflow stent frame is expandable for anchoring the valve in place, and may have an outflow end that is collapsible for delivery and expandable post-implant to facilitate a valve-in-valve procedure.
Core Innovation
The disclosed prosthetic heart valve is adapted for post-implant expansion while its support stent defines an implant circumference that is non-compressible in normal physiological use. In one construction, concentric radially outer and radially inner bands form the support stent. Overlapping free ends in the outer band permit expansion from a first diameter to a larger second diameter when an outward dilatory force substantially larger than forces associated with normal physiological use is applied from within the support stent.
Another construction uses weakened areas in the inner band below each commissure post, enabling the inner band to rupture and expand from the first diameter to the larger second diameter under the outward dilatory force. The disclosure also identifies expandable inflow stent frames, including struts with V-shaped notches that permit limited expansion and contraction, and describes the valve as permitting later valve-in-valve replacement.
Claims Coverage
The claims cover two inventive features directed to prosthetic heart valves adapted for post-implant expansion.
Expandable outer band
The valve member includes an inner structural support stent formed by a radially outer band located concentrically around and in contact with a radially inner band. At least one expandable segment in the outer band is formed by overlapping free ends, permitting the support stent to expand from a first diameter to a larger second diameter under an outward dilatory force substantially larger than forces associated with normal physiological use.
Weakened areas in the inner band
The valve member includes an inner structural support stent formed by concentric, contacting radially outer and radially inner bands. Expandable segments formed by weakened areas below each commissure post enable the inner band to rupture and expand the support stent from a first diameter to a larger second diameter under an outward dilatory force substantially larger than forces associated with normal physiological use.
The claims recite alternative support stent expansion mechanisms comprising overlapping free ends in the outer band or rupture-inducing weakened areas in the inner band, both maintaining non-compressibility during normal physiological use while permitting post-implant expansion.
Stated Advantages
The support stent is non-compressible in normal physiological use while permitting post-implant expansion to a larger diameter under an outward dilatory force substantially larger than forces associated with normal physiological use.
The valve design permits later valve-in-valve replacement.
Documented Applications
Use in a valve-in-valve procedure after implantation of the prosthetic heart valve.
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