Methods and devices for implanting cardiac valves

Abstract

The valve implantation system has a valve displacer for displacing and holding the native valve leaflets open in a first aspect of the invention. A replacement valve may be attached to the valve displacer before or after introduction and may be positioned independent of the valve displacer. In another aspect of the invention, the valve displacer and valve are in a collapsed condition during introduction and are expanded to deploy the valve displacer and valve. The valve is a tissue valve mounted to an expandable support structure. The support structure may have protrusions for engaging the valve displacer or barbs for anchoring the valve displacer to the heart or blood vessel. A temporary valve mechanism may be used to provide temporary valve functions during and after deployment of the valve displacer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method of implanting a cardiac valve, comprising the steps of: 
 introducing a valve and a valve displacer into a patient, the valve and valve displacer being movable from collapsed positions to expanded positions, the valve and valve displacer being introduced into the patient in the collapsed position;    positioning the valve displacer between valve leaflets of a native cardiac valve;    expanding the valve displacer to the expanded position after the positioning step thereby displacing and holding the valve leaflets in an open position; and    securing the valve at a desired location in the patient.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the replacement valve being secured to the valve displacer.    
     
     
         3  The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the valve interlocking with the valve displacer.  
 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the valve having sharp elements which penetrate the native valve.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the valve having a support structure and a valve portion, the support structure being expandable from a collapsed position to an expanded position, the introducing step being carried out with the support structure being in the collapsed position.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the desired valve location being spaced apart from the valve displacer.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out with the desired location of the valve being between the coronary ostia and the brachiocephalic artery.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the valve displacer being mounted to a catheter.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising the step of: 
 enclosing the valve displacer in a flexible sheath during the introducing step; and    uncovering the valve displacer before the expanding step.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the catheter passing through a penetration in the aortic arch.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out through the femoral artery.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the valve being mounted on a catheter.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the catheter having an expandable member, the valve displacer being mounted to the expandable member.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the catheter having a valve mechanism.    
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the catheter having a balloon, the balloon being coupled to a control mechanism for inflating and deflating the balloon to provide pumping assistance to the patient's heart.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the valve displacer being mounted on a catheter.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the catheter having an expandable member, the valve displacer being mounted to the expandable member.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out the valve displacer having an end which flares outwardly when the valve displacer is in the expanded position.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the introducing step is carried out with the valve displacer having a circumferential recess formed between the first end and a second end.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the securing step is carried out before the introducing step so that the valve and valve displacment device are introduced together.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the step of: 
 inverting the valve after the introducing step.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the valve introducing step is carried out with the valve having an expandable support structure, the expandable support structure having at least three posts extending from the expandable support structure.    
     
     
         23 . A device for maintaining a patient's native valve leaflets open, comprising: 
 a first end;    a second end; and    a central section extending between the first and second ends;    the first and second ends being flared outwardly from the central section so that the central section forms a recess for receiving the native valve leaflets, the first end, second end and central section forming a structure which is movable from a collapsed condition to an expanded condition.    
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the first end, second end and central section are integrally formed.    
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the structure is substantially cylindrical in the collapsed condition, the first and second ends flaring outwardly from the central section when the structure is in expanded condition.    
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 23 , wherein: 
 the structure has a circumferential recess for retaining the native valve leaflets, the circumferential recess extending around the central section.    
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 23 , further comprising: 
 a valve portion attached to at least one of the first end, second end and central section, the valve portion permitting blood flow therethrough in one direction and preventing flow in the other direction.    
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the valve portion is a tissue valve.    
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 27 , wherein: 
 the valve portion lockingly engages at least one of the first end, second end and central section.