Heart valve and apparatus for replacement thereof

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for replacing a heart valve within a vessel. The apparatus includes a replacement heart valve and a plurality of commisure stabilizers connected to the commisures of the heart valve in a removable manner. The commisure stabilizers position and stabilize the commisures in the proper positions as the replacement heart valve is secured within the vessel. The commisure stabilizers may be removed following securement of the replacement heart valve within the vessel. An expansion or retraction device of the invention assists in properly positioning the valve within the vessel.

However, the invention itself should only be defined by the appended claims, wherein we claim:  
     
         1 . A replacement heart valve for implantation within a vessel, the replacement heart valve comprising: 
 an annular base,    a plurality of commisures extending from the annular base at spaced apart positions, said commisures having proximal ends connected with said annular base and opposite distal ends, and    a flexible fabric material connecting the distal ends of said commisures and adapted to be secured to said vessel during implantation.    
     
     
         2 . An expandable and collapsible vessel retraction device comprising: 
 a body movable between expanded and collapsed conditions such that, in the collapsed condition the body may be inserted into an open vessel and actuated into the expanded condition whereby said vessel expands into a shape substantially corresponding to the natural pressurized shape of the vessel.    
     
     
         3 . The vessel retraction device of  claim 2 , wherein the body is generally tubular.  
     
     
         4 . The vessel retraction device of  claim 2 , wherein the body is at least partially formed of a shape memory material.  
     
     
         5 . A method of implanting a replacement heart valve including an annular base and a plurality of commisures extending from spaced apart positions of the annular base, the method comprising: 
 inserting said replacement heart valve into a patient,    connecting at least one commisure stabilizer to each of said commisures of said replacement heart valve either before or after inserting said replacement heart valve,    securing said replacement heart valve within the patient using said commisure stabilizers to orient the commisures of the replacement heart valve, and    removing said commisure stabilizers from the patient leaving the secured replacement heart valve in place.    
     
     
         6 . A method of implanting a replacement heart valve including an annular base and a plurality of commisures extending from spaced apart positions of the annular base, the method comprising: 
 connecting three commisure stabilizers of a positioning and stabilizing device to the respective three commisures of said replacement heart valve,    inserting said replacement heart valve into a patient,    securing said replacement heart valve within the patient using said commisure stabilizers to orient the three commisures of said replacement heart valve, and    removing said positioning and stabilizing device from the patient leaving the secured replacement heart valve in place.