The present invention relates to a novel stent and a replacement heart valve prosthesis as well as a method for implanting same.

A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a defective aortic valve includes a self-expandable annular frame made of shape-memory material. A one-way valve structure is disposed within an interior of the frame. The frame includes a plurality of posts projecting axially from an outflow end portion of the frame, wherein each of the posts includes an axial post portion and a terminal post portion. The terminal post portions have greater circumferential dimensions than the axial post portions. The terminal post portions are preferably formed with concave inner surfaces and convex outer surfaces for conforming to the shape of a delivery catheter. Each of the posts is shaped for placement within a corresponding recess along a distal end portion of the delivery catheter for ensuring that the prosthetic heart valve remains coupled to the delivery catheter while the prosthetic heart valve is expanded within the defective aortic valve.

An endovascular delivery device is disclosed. The device comprises a handle assembly at a distal end thereof and a top-cap assembly at a proximal end thereof. The top-cap assembly has an open configuration and a closed configuration and comprises: a capsule comprising an inner portion and an outer tubular portion and defining a cavity within the outer tubular portion, the cavity receiving the proximal portion of the endograft in the open configuration; and a retriever assembly having a body portion arranged and constructed to fit within the cavity of the capsule in the closed configuration. The device further comprises: a guide wire catheter extending through the handle assembly, the guide wire catheter being affixed at a proximal end thereof to the top-cap assembly; and an endograft receiving portion extending distally with respect to the top-cap assembly. In the closed configuration, the cavity is closed by the body portion of the retriever assembly.

A medical device for treating a vascular narrowing within a blood vessel including a catheter having a proximal end hole, a distal end hole positioned opposite the proximal end hole, a circumferential balloon located proximally of the distal end hole and an operational lumen extending through the catheter from the proximal end hole to the distal end hole. A first bend curves in a first direction and a second bend curves in a second generally opposite direction, the second bend being positioned distally of the first bend and proximally of the circumferential balloon, wherein the first bend and the second bend are configured to brace the catheter within the blood vessel against an arch defined by the blood vessel to inhibit recoil of the catheter. A supplemental medical device is configured for insertion into the blood vessel through the operational lumen of the catheter.

A method of delivering a prosthetic heart valve to a native aortic heart valve region of a patient can include introducing a prosthetic heart valve on a transvascular delivery apparatus into an artery of the patient, advancing the delivery apparatus through an aorta of the patient to the native aortic heart valve region, and releasing the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus can have a shaft with a valve connection portion that is releasably coupled to posts of the prosthetic heart valve. The delivery apparatus can have a delivery sheath positioned around the prosthetic heart valve and the valve connection portion. The releasing the prosthetic valve can include moving the delivery sheath proximally relative to the shaft and the prosthetic heart valve such that the delivery sheath uncovers the prosthetic heart valve and the prosthetic heart valve can self-expand.

A handle assembly for a transvascular prosthetic heart valve delivery apparatus including a handle housing, a main shaft extending distally from the handle housing, the main shaft configured to be coupled to a distal valve sheath that is configured to retain a prosthetic heart valve in a radially compressed state within the valve sheath, a screw shaft, a control knob that is rotatable relative to the handle housing and the screw shaft, a screw engagement latch that is adjustable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. In the engaged position, the latch can couple the control knob to the screw shaft such that rotation of the control knob relative to the handle housing causes the main shaft to move axially relative to the handle housing. In the disengaged position, the latch can decouple the control knob from the screw shaft such that the main shaft can move axially relative to the handle housing without rotation of the control knob.

A device for the transvascular implantation and fixation of prosthetic heart valves having a self-expanding heart valve stent (10) with a prosthetic heart valve (11) at its proximal end is introducible into a patient's main artery. With the objective of optimizing such a device to the extent that the prosthetic heart valve (11) can be implanted into a patient in a minimally-invasive procedure, to ensure optimal positioning accuracy of the prosthesis (11) in the patient's ventricle, the device includes a self-expanding positioning stent (20) introducible into an aortic valve positioned within a patient. The positioning stent is configured separately from the heart valve stent (10) so that the two stents respectively interact in their expanded states such that the heart valve stent (10) is held by the positioning stent (20) in a position in the patient's aorta relative the heart valve predefinable by the positioning stent (20).

A stent graft delivery device includes a handle body, a distal handle, a proximal handle, a guidewire lumen, a nose cone, a rigid outer catheter, a graft push lumen, a sheath lumen, an inner sheath and a locking ring. The locking ring is switchable between an advancement position and a delivery position. The stent graft delivery device is employed in methods for endovascular delivery of stent grafts.

A stent delivery system can include a core member, an introducer sheath, and a microcatheter. The core member can have a distal segment. The stent engagement member can have a generally tubular body positioned about the core member distal segment and can be rotatably coupled to the core member. The engagement member can include an inner layer that has a first durometer and an outer layer that has a second durometer less than the first durometer. The stent can extend along the core member distal segment such that an inner surface of the stent is engaged by the engagement member outer layer for facilitating rotation of the stent relative to the core member.

A stent delivery system, which includes a catheter and a stent stabilizer and pusher mechanism to capture and deploy a braided stent. The stabilizer pusher mechanism has a reinforced polymer shaft with two ends, a hub, a marker band and a braided mesh sock. The stent stabilizer and pusher mechanism further possesses a reinforced polymer shaft, which is constructed to have a low friction lumen. The low friction lumen may be guide wire compatible.