The invention relates to a prosthetic heart valve (100) for an endoprosthesis (1) used in the treatment of a stenotic cardiac valve and/or a cardiac valve insufficiency. The prosthetic heart valve (100) comprises of a plurality of leaflets (102), which consist of a natural and/or synthetic material and have a first opened position for opening the heart chamber and a second closed position for closing the heart chamber, the leaflets (102) being able to switch between their first and second position in response to the blood flow through the heart. In addition, the prosthetic heart valve (100) comprises a leaflet support portion (103), consisting of biological and/or synthetic material for mounting of the prosthetic heart valve (100) to a stent (10), and a bendable transition area (104) which forms a junction between the leaflets (102) and the leaflet support portion (103), the transition area (104) progressing essentially in a U-shaped manner similar to a cusp shape of a natural aortic or pulmonary heart valve for reducing tissue stresses during opening and closing motion of the leaflets (102). The invention further relates to an endoprosthesis (1) comprising a prosthetic heart valve (100) and a stent (10).

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for treating heart failure by normalizing elevated blood pressure in the left and right atria of a heart of a mammal. The present disclosure includes methods for creating and maintaining an opening in the atrial septum. Tools for making an opening and enlarging the opening are also disclosed. Use of the techniques and tools described herein prolongs the patency of an intra-atrial pressure relief opening.

A prosthetic heart valve is provided with a cuff having features which promote sealing with the native tissues even where the native tissues are irregular. The cuff may include a portion adapted to bear on the LVOT when the valve is implanted in a native aortic valve. The valve may include elements for biasing the cuff outwardly with respect to the stent body when the stent body is in an expanded condition. The cuff may have portions of different thickness distributed around the circumference of the valve in a pattern matching the shape of the opening defined by the native tissue. All or part of the cuff may be movable relative to the stent during implantation.

Systems and methods for mitral valve repair having a docking station and a valve implant. The docking station is an anchoring device having a helix structure. The valve implant is made of an expandable frame and a valve, and is radially expandable to a diameter that is at least the same as an expanded diameter of the anchoring device. The method of delivering the docking station and valve implant is performed by inserting the components through device delivery catheters.

A replacement mitral valve prosthesis includes a support structure and a valve body having three flexible leaflets. The support structure preferably includes an internal valve frame and an external sealing frame. The valve frame supports the flexible leaflets. The sealing frame is adapted to conform to the shape of the native mitral valve annulus. The sealing frame may be coupled to an inlet end of the valve frame, an outlet end of the valve frame, or both. A plurality of anchors is coupled to the outlet end of the valve frame. The anchors extend radially outwardly for placement behind native leaflets. The prosthesis preferably includes a skirt disposed along an exterior of the external sealing frame. The prosthesis is collapsible for delivery into the heart via a delivery catheter. The prosthesis is configured to self-expand for deployment in the heart when released from the delivery catheter.

Embodiments of a prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. An implantable prosthetic valve can include an annular frame having an inflow end, an outflow end and a central longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end to the outflow end. The valve can include a support layer, where a first portion of the support layer extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis along an outer surface of the frame and a second portion of the support layer extends circumferentially around the central longitudinal axis axially beyond the inflow end of the frame. The valve can further include a valvular structure, where at least a portion of the valvular structure is connected to the second portion of the support layer and is unsupported by the frame.

Embodiments herein relate to bioprosthetic heart valves. In an embodiment, a heart valve replacement system is included having a delivery catheter can include a heart valve accommodation region; and a heart valve disposed around the delivery catheter at the heart valve accommodation region of the delivery catheter, the heart valve can include a frame; and a plurality of valve leaflets coupled to the frame; wherein the valve leaflets include an animal tissue, the animal tissue can include from 15% to 50% by weight water; and from 20% to 70% by weight glycerol; a package defining an interior volume, wherein the delivery catheter and the heart valve are disposed within the package. Other embodiments are also included herein.

Example heart valves are disclosed. An example heart valve may comprise an expandable framework configured to shift from a closed configuration to an expanded configuration, the expandable framework having an inflow end, an outflow end and a lumen extending therein. The heart valve may also include a plurality of valve leaflets coupled to the expandable framework, each of the plurality of valve leaflets including a root edge and a free edge. Further, the heart valve may also include an outer skirt coupled to the plurality of valve leaflets, the outer skirt including a proximal edge, wherein the root edge of each of the plurality of valve leaflets is attached to the proximal edge of the outer skirt.

A modular prosthetic valve device for implantation in a patient and a system for and method of delivering such a modular valve device and assembling it in vivo are disclosed. The valve device is designed as two or more modules to be delivered unassembled, spatially separate, and combined into an assembled valve device in the body at or near the site of implantation. The valve device of the invention is deliverable as modules, providing a smaller delivery diameter than pre-assembled percutaneous valves, permitting use of a delivery device of reduced diameter, and increasing the flexibility of the valve device during delivery, compared to percutaneous valve devices in the art. The modules of the valve device may be connected by pull wires for delivery sequentially, and then assembled by remote manipulation using the pull wires. Various locking mechanisms are provided for attaching the device modules together.

A prosthetic apparatus for implantation in a native heart valve includes a main body for placement within the native annulus. The main body is compressible to a radially compressed state for delivery into the heart and is self-expandable from the compressed state to a radially expanded state for implantation. A valve structure is mounted within a lumen of the main body and preferably forms three leaflets made of pericardium. Ventricular anchors are coupled to a ventricular end portion of the main body. The ventricular anchors are adapted to be straightened for delivery to the native heart valve and are biased to spring back to a pre-formed bent shape for capturing the native heart valve leaflets between the main body and the ventricular anchors. An atrial sealing member may be provided along an atrial portion of the main body for impeding the flow of blood between the main body and the native annulus.