Percutaneously deliverable heart valve

Abstract

This invention discloses a percutaneously deliverable heart valve and delivery means thereof, wherein the percutaneously deliverable heart valve is a foldable heart valve prosthesis to replace a diseased valve of a patient comprising: a support structure with a diameter, wherein the support structure is foldable to a smaller diameter, the support structure comprising a plurality of crossbar frames, wherein each crossbar frame has a plurality of crossbars connected at an end of each crossbar; a flexible tissue heart valve with a plurality of valvular leaflets attached to the support structure; and a plurality of slidable ring connectors, wherein at least a slidable ring connector encircles a first crossbar from a first crossbar frame and a second crossbar from a second crossbar frame configured to coupling the first and the second crossbars.

1 . A foldable heart valve prosthesis comprising: 
 a foldable support structure having a plurality of crossbar frames, the support structure being sized to fit within a catheter in a folded state and being sized to fit within an aortic orifice when said support structure is in an expanded state;    an artificial heart valve attached to said support structure; and    a plurality of slidable connectors connected to said support structure.    
   
   
       2 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure further comprises a plurality of crossbar frames.  
   
   
       3 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein the crossbar frames further comprise a plurality of crossbars connected at an end of each crossbar.  
   
   
       4 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 2 , wherein at least one crossbar frame further comprises a recess on the first cross bar.  
   
   
       5 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable connectors are made of an elastic material.  
   
   
       6 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable connectors are made of a shape-memory material.  
   
   
       7 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 6 , wherein the shape-memory material is either a plastic shape-memory material or a Nitinol shape-memory material.  
   
   
       8 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the slidable connectors are made of a coil spring material.  
   
   
       9 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve is an atrioventricular valve.  
   
   
       10 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve is an aortic valve.  
   
   
       11 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve is a pulmonary valve.  
   
   
       12 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve is chemically treated with a chemical selected from a group consisting of glutaraldehyde, formaldehyde, dialdehyde starch, and polyepoxy compounds.  
   
   
       13 . The foldable heart valve prosthesis of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is self-expandable.  
   
   
       14 . A method for minimally invasively delivering a foldable heart valve prosthesis into a patient, a foldable support structure having a plurality of crossbar frames, the support structure being sized to fit within a catheter in a folded state and being sized to fit within an aortic orifice when said support structure is in an expanded state; 
 delivering said delivery apparatus to a valvular annulus of a patient;    unfolding the foldable heart valve prosthesis; and    placing the foldable heart valve within the valvular annulus of a patient.    
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the delivery apparatus comprises a cannula.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the delivery apparatus comprises a catheter.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the delivery step further comprises the placement of the delivery apparatus  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising a step of removing at least a portion of a patient's heart valve by means of a cutting tool introduced through the percutaneous intercostal penetration and through an internal penetration on a cardiac wall before the unfolding step.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of removing is carried out by providing radio frequency energy to the cutting tool.  
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising a step of fastening the unfolded heart valve within the valvular annulus by means of an instrument introduced through the percutaneous intercostal penetration and through an internal penetration on a cardiac wall after the unfolding step.  
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the artificial heart valve is an aortic valve.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the artificial heart valve is a pulmonary valve.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the artificial heart valve is an atrioventricular valve.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the unfolding step is carried out by an inflatable balloon on a catheter.