The present invention provides a system and method for retaining, positioning and releasing a prosthetic heart valve. The system includes a valve holder, and a control handle. The valve holder includes a connection base and at least one holding arm. The holding arms are distributed around a periphery of the connection base, with the holding arms having positioning structures at the distal side thereof for engaging with an outflow side of the prosthetic heart valve. The control handle is coupled to the valve holder for controlling the valve holder.

Prosthetic heart valves may be delivered to a targeted native heart valve site via one or more delivery catheters. In some embodiments, the prosthetic heart valve includes structural features that securely anchor the prosthetic heart valve to the anatomy at the site of the native heart valve. Such structural features can provide robust migration resistance. In addition, the prosthetic heart valves can include structural features that improve sealing between the prosthetic valve and native valve anatomy to mitigate paravalvular leakage. In particular implementations, the prosthetic heart valves occupy a small delivery profile, thereby facilitating a smaller delivery catheter system for advancement to the heart. Some delivery catheter systems can include a curved inner catheter to facilitate deployment of the prosthetic heart valve to a native tricuspid valve site via a superior vena cava or inferior vena cava.

A minimally-invasive implantable closing device (1) in the superior or inferior vena cava of a human body, with a valve device (6) and an anchoring device (7). The valve device (6) has closing elements and a support structure. The closing elements extend flat over a respective joint surface and in each case can be moved between a closed position, in which the closing elements together close a valve opening, and an open position, in which a flow is released through the valve opening. Further, a minimally-invasive implantable tricuspid valve prosthesis is provided.

Artificial heart valve structures and methods of their fabrication are disclosed. The heart valve structures may be fabricated from a biocompatible polymer and include one or more heart valve leaflet structures incorporated within a conduit. The valve structures may incorporate one or more conduit sinuses, as well as a gap between the lower margin of the valve leaflets and the interior of the conduit. In addition, the valve structures may include one or more valve sinuses created in a space between the valve leaflets and the conduit inner surface. Computational fluid dynamics and mechanical modeling may be used to design the valve leaflets with optimal characteristics. A heart valve structure may also incorporate a biodegradable component to which cells may adhere The incorporated cells may arise from patient cells migrating to the biodegradable component, or the component may be pre-seeded with cells prior to implantation in a patient.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a radially expandable annular frame and a valve body disposed inside the frame. The valve body includes three leaflets configured to regulate the flow of blood through the frame in one direction. The prosthetic heart valve also includes an annular inner skirt secured to an inner surface of the frame. The inner skirt, has an inflow edge oriented toward an inflow end of the frame, an outflow edge oriented toward an outflow end of the frame, and first and second lateral edges extending from the inflow edge to the outflow edge, wherein the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are secured together. The first lateral edge and the second lateral edge are oriented at an oblique angle relative to a plane that is perpendicular to a central longitudinal axis of the frame.

Heart valve implants and methods for implanting and delivering same are described. A heart valve implant can include a shaft, having a first end and a second end, an anchor, and a plurality of wafers. The anchor is coupled to the first end of the shaft and configured to secure the heart implant to a patient's heart. The wafers are coupled to the second end of the shaft and configured to form a stacked array of wafers. The stacked array of wafers can partially reduce a flow of blood through a heart valve upon coming in contact with a portion of a leaflet of the heart valve.

Systems and methods for controlling blood pressure via electrical stimulation of the heart are disclosed. Embodiments may include at least two different stimulation patterns, each configured to reduce blood pressure to a different degree, and may alternate between stimulation patterns based on the need of a patient, for example, alternating between day and night or between periods of strenuous and light activity. Some embodiments may take advantage of a slow baroreflex response that occurs after treatment is stopped, suspending treatment for extended periods, and then resuming treatment before blood pressure levels reach pretreatment values. Embodiments may control blood pressure by controlling atrial pressure and atrial stretch.

A replacement heart valve implant may include an expandable anchor member, a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within the anchor member, a seal member disposed about a distal portion of the anchor member, one or more whip sutures attaching a distal end of the seal member to a distal end of the plurality of valve leaflets at a joint, one or more distal lashing sutures attaching a distal portion of the seal member to a distal end of the anchor member, and a plurality of proximal lashing sutures attaching a proximal portion of the seal member to the distal portion of the anchor member, wherein the one or more distal lashing sutures does not extend through the seal member.

A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent and a valve assembly attached to the stent. The stent has a longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end adapted to reside adjacent the aortic annulus of a patient. The proximal end of the stent is oriented at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

Valve devices for replacement of mitral valves while preserving valvular and subvalvular mitral valve apparatus. The valve device may be configured as a double orifice valve replacement device, and may include an anchoring and manifold assembly coupleable to a delivery catheter. The assembly may include means for anchoring the device to the mitral valve or to a fixation device already attached to the mitral valve. A peripheral ring anchoring system secured to the assembly may include at least one expandable anchoring ring that is expandable within an orifice of the mitral valve so as to surround the orifice perimeter. A helical suture may be helically disposable about the ring, securing the ring to adjacent leaflet tissue. A trap door valve including a trap door body that seals against the anchoring ring during systole and unseals during the diastolic portion of the cardiac cycle may be provided.