Replacement prosthetic heart valves and methods of implantation

Abstract

A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a structure of a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The replacement heart valve includes a stent structure including a generally tubular body portion with an interior area and a series of wire portions arranged in a mesh-like configuration, and at least one stent post engaging structure extending radially outwardly from the body portion for engaging with an outer surface of a stent post of the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve. The stent structure further includes at least two leaflets attached within the interior area of the tubular body portion of the stent structure.

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 : A replacement prosthetic heart valve for engagement with a previously implanted prosthetic heart valve having a plurality commissure posts, the replacement heart valve comprising:
 a stent structure comprising:   a generally tubular body portion;   a plurality of vertical members that are spaced apart from each other around a perimeter of the body portion and that extend in a direction that is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the body portion; and   a plurality of commissure post engagement members that are spaced apart from each other around a perimeter of the body portion and extending radially outwardly from the body portion;   a plurality of leaflets attached within the tubular body portion;   wherein the number of vertical members and the number of commissure post engagement members matches the number of commissure posts of the previously implanted heart valve;   wherein the commissure post engagement members are configured to contact an exterior portion of the commissure posts of the previously implanted heart valve;   wherein the vertical members are configured to contact an interior portion of the previously implanted heart valve; and   wherein the commissure post engagement members and the vertical members are configured to capture the commissure posts of the previously implanted heart valve therebetween.   
     
     
         14 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein each vertical member is configured to contact an interior portion of a commissure post of the previously implanted heart valve. 
     
     
         15 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve comprises three commissure posts. 
     
     
         16 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve comprises two commissure posts. 
     
     
         17 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve comprises a ring member, wherein the stent structure further comprises a plurality of flange members that extend outwardly from the body portion, the flange members spaced between adjacent vertical members, the flange members configured to contact a portion of the ring member. 
     
     
         18 : The replacement heart valve of claim  5 , wherein the flange members each comprise a generally U-shaped structure or a generally V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         19 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the stent structure further comprises a plurality of flange members that extend outwardly from the body portion, the flange members spaced between adjacent vertical members, the flange members configured to contact an inflow portion of the previously implanted heart valve. 
     
     
         20 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the stent structure is expandable. 
     
     
         21 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the stent structure is self-expandable from a collapsed position to an expanded position in response to removal of an external compressive force. 
     
     
         22 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the stent structure is expandable with the application of an outward radial force. 
     
     
         23 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , further comprising a visually detectable marker. 
     
     
         24 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , further comprising a sealing gasket surrounding at least a portion of a perimeter of the generally tubular body portion. 
     
     
         25 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the vertical members each comprise a generally U-shaped structure or a generally V-shaped structure. 
     
     
         26 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the stent structure further comprises a plurality of upper vertical members and a plurality of lower vertical members, wherein each of the upper vertical members extend in a direction opposite the plurality of lower vertical members. 
     
     
         27 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 26 , wherein each upper vertical member is longitudinally aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of lower vertical members. 
     
     
         28 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the vertical members are configured to align with the commissure posts of the previously implanted heart valve. 
     
     
         29 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve comprises a ring member and a plurality of leaflets, wherein the stent structure further comprises a plurality of leaflet engagement members configured to hold the leaflets of the previously implanted prosthetic heart valve against the ring member. 
     
     
         30 : The replacement heart valve of  claim 29 , wherein leaflet engagement members each comprise a generally W-shaped structure, a generally U-shaped structure, or a generally V-shaped structure.