Heart Valve Assemblies

Abstract

A heart valve assembly comprises a first prosthesis configured to expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state at which the first annular prosthesis contacts native tissue of a body lumen. The heart valve assembly also comprises a second prosthesis comprising a valve, and a connection adapter that secures the second prosthesis to the first prosthesis, the connection adapter having a multi-lobed circumference.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 : A prosthetic valve assembly comprising:
 a first annular prosthesis comprising a longitudinal axis, a first wall segment parallel to the longitudinal axis, a second wall segment adjacent the first wall segment and angled toward the longitudinal axis, the first annular prosthesis configured to expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state at which the first annular prosthesis contacts native tissue of a body lumen; and   a second annular prosthesis comprising a prosthetic valve, at least a portion of the second prosthesis positioned within at least a portion of the expanded first annular prosthesis, the second annular prosthesis coupled to the second wall segment of the first annular prosthesis.   
     
     
         21 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis further comprises a third wall segment adjacent the first wall segment and angled away from the longitudinal axis, the first wall segment extending between the second and third wall segments. 
     
     
         22 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis is configured to resiliently expand within the body lumen. 
     
     
         23 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises an annular ring configured to be folded in the unexpanded state and unfolded in the expanded state. 
     
     
         24 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises a plurality of elements configured to fix the first annular prosthesis to the native tissue. 
     
     
         25 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 24 , wherein the plurality of elements to fix the first annular prosthesis to the native tissue is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of sutures, a plurality of clips, a plurality of staples, and a plurality of pins. 
     
     
         26 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises a plurality of fixturing element connectors configured to allow a plurality of fixturing elements to pass, the plurality of fixturing elements configured to fix the first annular prosthesis to the native tissue. 
     
     
         27 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the plurality of fixturing elements is selected from the group consisting of a plurality of sutures, a plurality of clips, a plurality of staples, and a plurality of pins. 
     
     
         28 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein an end portion of the second annular prosthesis is coupled to an end portion of the second wall segment of the first annular prosthesis. 
     
     
         29 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second wall segment of the first annular prosthesis comprises a first engagement element and the second annular prosthesis comprises a second engagement element configured to couple to the first engagement element thereby coupling the second annular prosthesis to the first annular prosthesis. 
     
     
         30 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 29 , wherein the first engagement element comprises a lip and the second engagement element comprises a spring lock tab. 
     
     
         31 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second annular prosthesis further comprises a frame having a latitudinal cross-sectional shape in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the second annular prosthesis that defines multiple lobes separated by scallops. 
     
     
         32 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises a first fixation point, the second annular prosthesis comprises a second fixation point aligned with the first fixation point, and the first fixation point and the second fixation point are configured to allow a fixation device to pass, the fixation device connecting the first annular prosthesis to the second annular prosthesis. 
     
     
         33 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the fixation device is selected from the group consisting of a suture, a grommet, a clip, and a pin. 
     
     
         34 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises an annular ring. 
     
     
         35 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the second annular prosthesis comprises a frame. 
     
     
         36 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the first annular prosthesis comprises a radially extending end portion configured to stabilize the expanded first annular prosthesis within a native valve annulus. 
     
     
         37 : A prosthetic valve assembly comprising:
 a first annular prosthesis comprising a longitudinal axis, a first wall segment parallel to the longitudinal axis, a second wall segment adjacent the first wall segment and angled toward the longitudinal axis, a third wall segment adjacent the first wall segment and angled away from the longitudinal axis, the first wall segment extending between the third and second wall segments, the first annular prosthesis configured to expand from an unexpanded state to an expanded state at which the first annular prosthesis contacts native tissue of a native valve, the first annular prosthesis further comprising a plurality of elements configured to fix the first annular prosthesis to the native valve;   a second annular prosthesis comprising a prosthetic valve, at least a portion of the second annular prosthesis positioned within at least a portion of the expanded first annular prosthesis, wherein the second wall of the first annular prosthesis comprises a first fixation point, the second annular prosthesis comprises a second fixation point aligned with the first fixation point, wherein the first fixation point and the second fixation point are configured to allow a fixation device to pass; and   a fixation device connecting the first annular prosthesis to the second annular prosthesis.   
     
     
         38 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 37 , wherein the fixation device is selected from the group consisting of a suture, a grommet, a clip, and a pin. 
     
     
         39 : The prosthetic valve assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the third wall segment is configured to stabilize the expanded first annular prosthesis within the native valve.