Tri-Leaflet Prosthetic Heart Valve

Abstract

A prosthetic heart valve includes a first upper frame portion and a stent frame connected to the first upper frame portion via at least two stent frame extensions. The stent frame includes a base and at least two stent posts extending upwardly from the base towards the first upper frame portion. The first upper frame portion, the base, and the at least two stent posts each has an inner surface and an outer surface. The prosthetic heart valve also includes at least one sheet of leaflet material configured to encircle the stent frame and weave through the stent frame between the first upper frame portion and the base.

1 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
 a stent frame comprising a first upper frame portion, a base, and at least two stent posts extending upwardly from the base;
 wherein the base is connected to the first upper frame portion by the at least two stent posts, and wherein the first upper frame portion, the base, and the at least two stent posts each has an inner surface and an outer surface; and 
   at least one sheet of leaflet material configured to weave through the stent frame from the outer surface to the inner surface between the first upper frame portion and the base of the stent frame.   
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material is disposed on the outer surface of the base and of the at least two stent posts, and at least a portion of the at least one sheet of leaflet material is tucked under the first upper frame portion between the first upper frame portion and the base and is disposed on the inner surface of the upper frame portion. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material is disposed on the inner surface of the base and of the at least two stent posts, and at least a portion of the at least one sheet of leaflet material is tucked in under the first upper frame portion between the first upper frame portion and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first upper frame portion has a shape that is substantially similar to an upper edge of the base. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , comprising a second upper frame portion connected to the first upper frame portion, and the second upper frame portion has a shape that is substantially similar to an upper edge of the first upper frame portion. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 5 , comprising a third upper frame portion connected to the second upper frame portion, and the third upper frame portion has a shape that is substantially similar to an upper edge of the second upper frame portion. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material weaves through the stent frame between the first upper frame portion and the second upper frame portion and/or between the second upper frame portion and the third upper frame portion. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the base has an lower edge that is substantially similar to a lower edge of the first upper frame portion. 
     
     
         9 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least two stent posts have at least two heights different from one another. 
     
     
         10 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material is a continuous sheet of leaflet material. 
     
     
         11 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 10 , wherein the continuous sheet of leaflet material comprises an upper portion having at least two arches extending upwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         12 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 11 , wherein the continuous sheet of leaflet material comprises one or more spacings in the upper portion, wherein each of the one or more spacings is disposed between two of the at least two arches. 
     
     
         13 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material comprises a polymer material. 
     
     
         14 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein polymer material comprises linear low density polyethylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, low-density polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, polyurethane, polycaprolactone, polydimethylsiloxane, polymethylmethacrylate, polyoxymethylene, thermoplastic polyurethane, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 14 , wherein the polymer material is linear low density polyethylene. 
     
     
         16 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material further comprises hyaluronic acid. 
     
     
         17 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the stent frame has a height and an inner diameter, and wherein the ratio of height to diameter is from about 0.5 to about 0.9. 
     
     
         18 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 17 , wherein the at least two arches have a height, and wherein the ratio of the height of the at least two arches to the inner diameter of the stent frame is from about 0.05 to about 0.12. 
     
     
         19 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material comprises a bioprosthetic material. 
     
     
         20 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sheet of leaflet material has a three dimensional curvature and wherein the leaflet material is two dimensional.