Prosthetic heart valve

Abstract

Prosthetic heart valves are described. A prosthetic heart valve can include a radially collapsible and expandable frame with a plurality of struts arranged to form a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of closed cells. A prosthetic heart valve can further include a leaflet structure with a plurality of leaflet sections joined to form commissures. The frame includes a plurality of pairs of posts, the posts of each pair spaced apart from each other to define an opening. Each commissure extends radially outwardly through the opening of a respective pair of posts. The pairs of posts have respective lower ends that are axially spaced from a lower end of the frame. An uppermost row of closed cells is formed partly by an uppermost row of circumferentially extending struts interconnecting adjacent posts. A lowermost row of closed cells includes a greater number of closed cells than the uppermost row of closed cells.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An implantable prosthetic valve comprising:
 a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame comprising a plurality of circumferentially extending struts, wherein the circumferentially extending struts are arranged to form a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of closed cells, including an uppermost row of closed cells and a lowermost row of closed cells; and   a leaflet structure positioned within the frame, the leaflet structure comprising a plurality of leaflet sections joined to one another to form commissures of the leaflet structure,   wherein the frame comprises a plurality of pairs of posts adjacent to each of the commissures, the posts of each pair being spaced apart from each other so as to define an opening therebetween,   wherein each commissure extends radially outwardly through the opening of a respective pair of posts,   wherein the pairs of posts have respective lower ends that are axially spaced from a lower end of the frame,   wherein the uppermost row of closed cells is formed partly by an uppermost row of circumferentially extending struts of the frame interconnecting circumferentially adjacent posts, and   wherein the lowermost row of closed cells comprises a greater number of closed cells than the uppermost row of closed cells.   
     
     
         2 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the posts are positioned axially along the frame at least partially within the uppermost row of closed cells. 
     
     
         3 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the uppermost row of circumferentially extending struts is a first row of circumferentially extending struts, wherein the plurality of circumferentially extending struts further comprises a second row of circumferentially extending struts, and wherein each pair of posts extends axially away from a respective pair of struts of the second row of circumferentially extending struts. 
     
     
         4 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein each post is substantially straight. 
     
     
         5 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the opening of each pair of posts has a constant width. 
     
     
         6 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of circumferentially extending rows of closed cells comprises additional rows of closed cells that are positioned axially between the uppermost row of closed cells and the lowermost row of closed cells. 
     
     
         7 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a material selected from the group comprising stainless steel and a cobalt-chromium alloy. 
     
     
         8 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the leaflet structure comprises pericardial tissue. 
     
     
         9 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the uppermost row of circumferentially extending struts is a first row of circumferentially extending struts, wherein the plurality of circumferentially extending rows of closed cells further comprises an intermediate row of closed cells axially interposed between the uppermost row of closed cells and the lowermost row of closed cells, wherein the plurality of circumferentially extending struts further comprises:
 a second row of circumferentially extending struts positioned upstream of the first row of circumferentially extending struts;   a third row of circumferentially extending struts positioned upstream of the second row of circumferentially extending struts; and   a fourth row of circumferentially extending struts positioned upstream of the third row of circumferentially extending struts,   wherein the second and third rows of circumferentially extending struts define the intermediate row of closed cells, and wherein the third and fourth rows of circumferentially extending struts define the lowermost row of closed cells.   
     
     
         10 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the lowermost row of closed cells comprises exactly twelve inflow apices at the lower end of the frame. 
     
     
         11 . An implantable prosthetic valve comprising:
 a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame comprising a plurality of rows of circumferentially extending struts, including an uppermost, first row of circumferentially extending struts, a second row of circumferentially extending struts upstream of the first row of circumferentially extending struts, and a lowermost, third row of circumferentially extending struts, wherein the circumferentially extending struts are arranged to form a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of closed cells, including an uppermost row of closed cells at least partially defined by the first and second rows of circumferentially extending struts and a lowermost row of closed cells at least partially defined by the third row of circumferentially extending struts, and   a leaflet structure positioned within the frame, the leaflet structure comprising a plurality of leaflet sections joined to one another to form commissures of the leaflet structure,   wherein the frame comprises a plurality of commissure support portions supporting respective commissures of the leaflet structure, and   wherein each closed cell of the uppermost row of closed cells has a circumferential width that is greater than a circumferential width of each closed cell of the lowermost row of closed cells.   
     
     
         12 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein each closed cell of the uppermost row of closed cells has an axial height that is greater than an axial height of each closed cell of the lowermost row of closed cells. 
     
     
         13 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein the lowermost row of closed cells comprises a greater number of closed cells than the uppermost row of closed cells. 
     
     
         14 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of rows of circumferentially extending struts further comprises one or more intermediate rows of circumferentially extending struts positioned between the second and third rows of circumferentially extending struts. 
     
     
         15 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more intermediate rows of circumferentially extending struts comprises three or more intermediate rows of circumferentially extending struts. 
     
     
         16 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein each circumferentially extending strut of the first row of circumferentially extending struts is curved. 
     
     
         17 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , further comprising a cloth member that is sutured to the frame, wherein a lower edge portion of each leaflet section is sutured to the cloth member. 
     
     
         18 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein each commissure support portion comprises a pair of struts extending parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other so as to define an opening of the commissure support portion therebetween. 
     
     
         19 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 18 , wherein each commissure extends radially outwardly through the opening of a respective commissure support portion and are secured to the commissure support portion outside of the frame. 
     
     
         20 . The implantable prosthetic valve of  claim 11 , wherein the lowermost row of closed cells comprises exactly twelve inflow apices at an inflow end of the frame.