Methods of treating a native aortic valve insufficiency

Abstract

A method of treating a native aortic valve insufficiency includes positioning the closed ends of a stent's three first arches within respective native valve pockets such that the closed ends engage the respective native valve pockets. The method further includes clamping three native valve leaflets between the three first arches and the three second arches such that the three native valve leaflets are disposed radially inward of the three first arches and radially outward of the three second arches.

1 - 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A method of treating an insufficiency of a native aortic valve having three valve leaflets defining three valve pockets, with a valve prosthesis supported on a stent including (i) three first arches defining three first closed ends adjacent a proximal end of the stent, wherein the three first arches are equally spaced about the circumference of the stent and circumscribe the stent, and (ii) three second arches defining three second closed ends adjacent the proximal end of the stent, each of the three second arches being substantially circumferentially aligned with one of the three first arches, wherein the valve prosthesis is directly attached to the three second arches, the method comprising:
 positioning each of the closed ends of the three first arches within a respective one of the three valve pockets such that each of the closed ends of the three first arches engages the respective one of the three valve pockets; and   clamping each of the three valve leaflets between a respective one of the three first arches and a respective one of the three second arches;   such that each of the three valve leaflets is disposed radially inward of the three first arches and radially outward of the three second arches.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein, each of the three first arches and each of the three second arches includes a substantially U-shaped or substantially V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein each apex of each of the three first arches is cantilevered relative to a distal end of the stent. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein each of the three first arches is circumferentially aligned and axially nested relative to a respective one of the three second arches. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the valve prosthesis is sutured directly to the plurality of second arches. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the stent further includes three connecting webs, each connecting web disposed axially between and connecting an open end of a first arch and an open end of a second arch. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 91 , further including positioning at least a portion of each of the three leaflets of the native valve within an interior of the stent.