Multi-filament valve stent for a cardiac valvular prosthesis

Abstract

A prosthetic cardiac valvular member of flexible material includes a flexible stent member which may be either attached to the cardiac valvular member or molded therein. The stent member is formed by a plurality of adjacent filaments which are bound together by suturing, braiding, jacketing or encapsulating. The prosthetic cardiac valvular member may be either a flexible heart valve or an annuloplasty ring. Post members are formed into the stent member when the stent member is used in the flexible heart valve.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A stent comprising: 
 a stent member having a plurality of post members formed therein;    the stent member being formed by a plurality of adjacent filaments; and    the filaments being bound together.    
     
     
         2 . The stent as defined in  claim 1  further comprising a stent portion formed in the stent member interconnecting each adjacent post member.  
     
     
         3 . The stent as defined in  claim 2  wherein the adjacent filaments are coiled so that each post member of one filament is side-by-side with a post member of each adjacent filament, and each stent portion of the one filament is side-by-side with a stent portion of each adjacent filament.  
     
     
         4 . A stent member having a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension configured such that the transverse dimension is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of the stent member and the length of longitudinal dimension of the stent member is greater than the length of the transverse dimension of the stent member wherein the stent member has a core comprised of a plurality of filaments with each filament having a longitudinal axis oriented along the longitudinal dimension of the stent member.  
     
     
         5 . The stent member as defined in  claim 4 , wherein each filament extends continuously along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal dimension of the stent member.  
     
     
         6 . The stent member as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the filaments are bound together.  
     
     
         7 . The stent member as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the filaments are bound together by braiding.  
     
     
         8 . The stent member as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the filaments are bound together by a plurality of sutures.  
     
     
         9 . The stent member as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the filaments are bound together by a sleeve member.  
     
     
         10 . The stent member as defined in  claim 6 , wherein the filaments are bound together by being encapsulated in a synthetic material.  
     
     
         11 . The stent member as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the filaments include at least one elongated filament, a first filament spirally wrapped around the elongated filament in a first direction, and a second filament spirally wrapped around the first filament in a second direction opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         12 . The stent member as defined in  claim 5 , wherein the stent member is configured into a series of undulations to form a plurality of flexible post members in the stent member.  
     
     
         13 . The stent member as defined in  claim 12 , wherein the filaments are coiled so that each post member of one filament is side-by-side with a post member of each adjacent filament.  
     
     
         14 . The stent member as defined in  claim 4  wherein the stent member is used in an annuloplasty ring.  
     
     
         15 . A heart valve comprising a valve body and a stent member coupled to the valve body, wherein the stent member has a longitudinal dimension and a transverse dimension configured such that the transverse dimension is perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension and the length of longitudinal dimension of the stent member is greater than the length of the transverse dimension of the stent member wherein the stent member has a core comprised of a plurality of filaments with each filament having a longitudinal axis oriented along the longitudinal dimension of the stent.  
     
     
         16 . The heart as defined in  claim 15 , wherein each filament extends continuously along substantially the entire length of the longitudinal dimension of the stent member.  
     
     
         17 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments are bound together and formed of a composite graphite-polymer material.  
     
     
         18 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stent member is molded into the valve body.  
     
     
         19 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stent member is secured to a surface of the valve body.  
     
     
         20 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments are bound together by braiding.  
     
     
         21 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments are bound together by a plurality of sutures.  
     
     
         22 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments are bound together by a sleeve member.  
     
     
         23 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments are bound together by being encapsulated in a synthetic material.  
     
     
         24 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the filaments include at least one elongated filament, a first filament spirally wrapped around the elongated filament in a first direction, and a second filament spirally wrapped around the first filament in a second direction opposite the first direction.  
     
     
         25 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16 , wherein the stent member is configured into a series of undulations to form a plurality of flexible post members ( 34 ) in the stent member.  
     
     
         26 . The heart valve as defined in  claim 16  comprised of a flexible material.