Apparatus for restoring aortic valve and treatment method using thereof

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus designed to effectuate restoration of normal aortic valvular function where there is aortic valvular regurgitation either primary or secondary to diseases of the aorta such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, rheumatic aortic disease annuloaortic ectasia and etc. is present. The present invention provides an apparatus for repairing aortic annulus composed of ( 1 ) a band type inner stabilizer (sometimes ring type inner stabilizer) which is implanted in the true aortic lumen to fix the aortic annular diameter and ( 2 ) an outer felt stabilizer which is implanted on the outside surface of aorta to support the inner stabilizer. Furthermore, the present invention provides an apparatus for restoring the sinotubular junction in the ascending aorta which is composed of ( 1 ) a ring type inner stabilizer which is implanted in the sinotubular junction in the ascending aorta and ( 2 ) an outer felt stabilizer which is implanted on the outside surface of the sinotubular junction to support the inner stabilizer.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
   
   
       22 . An apparatus for restoring an aortic valve having an aortic annulus and a sinotubular junction, the apparatus comprising:
 a) an aortic annulus stabilizing device sized and configured to be placed on an outside surface of a wall of an aortic lumen associated with the aortic valve for stabilizing a diameter of an aortic annulus; and   b) a continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device sized and configured to be placed outside of the sinotubular junction of the aortic valve for stabilizing a diameter of the sinotubular junction.   
   
   
       23 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device is a discontinuous or a continuous type. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device has three equally spaced markers on its circumference, which enables determination of an orientation of the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device. 
   
   
       25 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device has vertical marks on both ends thereof in order to fix only a fibrous part of the aortic annulus and have an extra margin of about 2 mm outside of a vertical line which enables stabilization to be more easily accomplished. 
   
   
       26 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device is made of a synthetic fiber or a biological material that is harmless to humans. 
   
   
       27 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device is made of a synthetic fiber or a biological material that is harmless to humans. 
   
   
       28 . The apparatus for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus does not have a graft or flexible tubular structure connecting the aortic annulus stabilizing device and the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device. 
   
   
       29 . A treatment method for aortic valvular regurgitation comprising:
 implanting an aortic annulus stabilizing device on an outside surface of a wall of an aortic lumen associated with an aortic valve; and   implanting a continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device on an outside of a sinotubular junction of the aortic valve.   
   
   
       30 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the aortic valvular regurgitation is resulted from either primary or secondary diseases of aorta such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, rheumatic aortic diseases, annuloalrtic ectasia, aortic stenosis. 
   
   
       31 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device is a discontinuous or continuous type. 
   
   
       32 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device has three equally spaced markers on its circumference, which enables determination of an orientation of the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device. 
   
   
       33 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device has vertical marks on both ends thereof in order to fix only a fibrous part of the aortic annulus, and has an extra margin of about 2 mm outside of a vertical line which enables stabilization to be more easily accomplished. 
   
   
       34 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device is made of a synthetic fiber or a biological material that is harmless to humans. 
   
   
       35 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as set forth in  claim 29 , wherein the aortic annulus stabilizing device is made of a synthetic fiber or a biological material that is harmless to humans. 
   
   
       36 . The treatment method for restoring an aortic valve as forth in  claim 29 , wherein no graft or flexible tubular structure is used between the aortic annulus stabilizing device and the continuous sinotubular junction stabilizing device.