Prosthetic heart valves, scaffolding structures, and systems and methods for implantation of same

Abstract

Prosthetic valves and their component parts are described, as are prosthetic valve delivery devices and methods for their use. The prosthetic valves are particularly adapted for use in percutaneous aortic valve replacement procedures. The delivery devices are particularly adapted for use in minimally invasive surgical procedures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A delivery device for a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 a gripper having a plurality of fingers, and   a tubular member having a plurality of longitudinal slots at a distal end thereof,   wherein said gripper is slidably disposed within said tubular member and said plurality of fingers have a first position within the interior of a distal end of the tubular member and a second position extending outward from the distal end of the tubular member.   
     
     
         2 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said gripper is an elongated member defining a longitudinal axis, and each, of said plurality of fingers extends from a first end of said gripper generally parallel to said longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said gripper comprises three or more fingers. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of fingers comprises a generally cylindrical member extending from a first end of said gripper. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member comprises a rigid material. 
     
     
         6 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , wherein said tubular member comprises a flexible material. 
     
     
         7 . The delivery device of  claim 1 , further comprising a prosthetic heart valve retained by the fingers of said gripper. 
     
     
         8 . The delivery device of  claim 7 , wherein said prosthetic heart valve is located within the interior of the tubular member when the fingers of said gripper are in the first position. 
     
     
         9 . The delivery device of  claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of said prosthetic heart valve extends through at least one of the longitudinal slots on said tubular member. 
     
     
         10 . A delivery device for a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 a catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end, and defining a longitudinal axis, the distal end of said catheter body comprising a gripper having a plurality of elongated restraining members near its distal end,   wherein each restraining member extends generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the catheter and has a proximal portion that is attached to the gripper and a distal portion that is not attached to the gripper, thereby defining a central region located internally of the plurality of restraining members and a longitudinal slot between each adjacent pair of restraining members.   
     
     
         11 . The delivery device of  claim 10 . further comprising an outer member having a plurality of longitudinal slots at a distal end thereof wherein said gripper is slidably disposed within said tubular member 
     
     
         12 . The delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein said plurality of restraining members have a first position within the interior of a distal end of the outer member and a second position extending outward from the distal end of the outer member. 
     
     
         13 . The delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein said gripper comprises three or more restraining members. 
     
     
         14 . The delivery device of  claim 10 , wherein each of said plurality of restraining members comprises a generally wire loop extending from a first end of said gripper. 
     
     
         15 . The delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein said outer member comprises a rigid tube. 
     
     
         16 . The delivery device of  claim 11 , wherein said outer member comprises a flexible tube. 
     
     
         17 . The delivery device of  claim 10 , further comprising a prosthetic heart valve retained by the restraining members of said, gripper. 
     
     
         18 . The delivery device of  claim 12 , further comprising a prosthetic heart valve retained by the restraining members of said gripper. 
     
     
         19 . The delivery device of  claim 18 , wherein said prosthetic heart valve is located within the interior of the outer member when the restraining members of said gripper are in the first position. 
     
     
         20 . The delivery device of  claim 19 , wherein at least a portion of said prosthetic heart valve extends through at least one of the longitudinal slots on said outer member.