Low profile heart valve and delivery system

Abstract

Apparatus for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve, including: a delivery catheter having a diameter of 21 french or less; an expandable anchor disposed within the delivery catheter; and a replacement valve disposed within the delivery catheter. The invention also includes a method for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of: inserting a catheter having a diameter no more than 21 french into the patient; endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve through the catheter; and deploying the anchor and the replacement valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implantable heart valve, comprising:
 an expandable anchor having an inflow end region and an outflow end region;   wherein the inflow end region, the outflow end region, or both includes a securing region for securing the anchor to a target region; and   a valve designed to be secured to the anchor, the valve including a frame and one or more leaflets secured to the frame.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the securing region is designed to engage a native leaflet. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor and the valve are designed to be delivered using a single delivery catheter. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a sealing member. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a skirt. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a self-expanding material. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor includes a central ring. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the inflow end region includes the securing member. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the outflow end region includes the securing member. 
     
     
         10 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 9 , wherein the inflow end region includes a second securing member. 
     
     
         11 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a replacement aortic valve. 
     
     
         12 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the valve includes a replacement mitral valve. 
     
     
         13 . An implantable heart valve, comprising:
 an expandable stent frame having an outflow end region;   wherein the outflow end region flares out to define a hoop; and   a valve designed to be secured to the stent frame, the valve including an inner stent and one or more leaflets secured to the inner stent.   
     
     
         14 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the expandable stent frame and the valve are designed to be delivered using a single delivery catheter. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor includes a sealing member. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor includes a skirt. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the anchor includes a self-expanding material. 
     
     
         18 . A method for delivery a prosthetic heart valve, the method comprising:
 advancing a prosthetic valve to a target location adjacent to a heart valve, the prosthetic valve comprising:
 an expandable anchor having an inflow end region and an outflow end region, 
 wherein the inflow end region, the outflow end region, or both includes a securing region for securing the anchor to the target location, and 
 a valve designed to be secured to the anchor, the valve including a frame and one or more leaflets secured to the frame; and 
   expanding the anchor at the target location.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the target location is adjacent to an aortic valve. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the target location is adjacent to a mitral valve.