Methods for Delivering a Heart Valve Prosthesis

Abstract

The invention provides methods and systems for introducing a delivery device in the heart at or near the apex of the heart, wherein the delivery device includes a prosthesis, advancing the prosthesis to the target site, and disengaging the prosthesis from the delivery device at the target site for implantation. Specifically, the present invention provides valve replacement systems for delivering a replacement heart valve to a target site in or near a heart. The valve replacement system comprises a trocar or other suitable device to penetrate the heart at or near the apex of the heart, a delivery member that is movably disposed within the trocar, and a replacement cardiac valve disposed on the delivery member. The delivery member may further comprise mechanical or inflatable expanding members to facilitate implantation of the prosthetic valve at the target site.

1 - 26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A method for delivering a heart valve prosthesis to a target site in a body, the method comprising:
 introducing a delivery device having a heart valve prosthesis releasably coupled to the delivery device into a chamber of a heart through an apical area of the heart;   advancing the heart valve prosthesis to a target site in a body; and   implanting the heart valve prosthesis at the target site.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising removing the delivery device from the body. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the introducing the delivery device into the heart through the apical area of the heart comprises advancing the delivery device through a fifth left intercostal space from a mid-stemal line of the body. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the chamber of the heart comprises a left ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the target site comprises a native aortic valve or a native mitral valve. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the chamber of the heart comprises a right ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the target site comprises a native pulmonary valve or a native tricuspid valve. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the heart valve prosthesis comprises a tissue valve coupled to a collapsible and expandable support structure. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the introducing the delivery device into the heart through the apical area of the heart comprises:
 penetrating a trocar comprising a hollow lumen through the apical area of the heart and into the chamber of the heart; and   passing the delivery device through the hollow lumen of the trocar and into the chamber of the heart.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the apical area of the heart comprises a blunt rounded inferior extremity of the heart from by a left ventricle and a right ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         37 . A method for delivering a heart valve prosthesis to a target site in a body, the method comprising:
 inserting a trocar comprising a hollow lumen through an apex of a heart and into a chamber of the heart;   passing a delivery device having a heart valve prosthesis releasably coupled to the delivery device through the hollow lumen of the trocar and into the chamber of the heart;   advancing the heart valve prosthesis to a target site in a body; and implanting the heart valve prosthesis at the target site.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising removing the delivery device from the body. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the inserting the trocar through the apex of the heart comprises advancing the trocar through a fifth left intercostal space from a mid-sternal line of the body. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the chamber of the heart comprises a left ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the target site comprises a native aortic valve or a native mitral valve. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the chamber of the heart comprises a right ventricle of the heart. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein the target site comprises a native pulmonary valve or a native tricuspid valve. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the heart valve prosthesis comprises a tissue valve coupled to a radially collapsible and expandable support structure. 
     
     
         45 . A method for delivering a heart valve prosthesis, the method comprising:
 introducing a delivery device having a heart valve prosthesis releasably coupled to the delivery device into a left ventricle of a heart through an apex of the heart;   advancing the heart valve prosthesis to a native aortic valve in a body; and   implanting the heart valve prosthesis at the native aortic valve.