Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular frame that is radially collapsible and expandable between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The frame has a plurality of circumferentially extending rows of angled struts, each row of angled struts comprising angled struts arranged in a zig-zag pattern. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and an outer sealing member mounted outside of the frame. The sealing member has an undulating outflow edge portion forming a plurality of triangular projections that are connected to and shaped to correspond to the zig-zag pattern of one of the rows of angled struts. The outer sealing member is sized to fit snugly against the outer surface of the frame when the frame is in the expanded configuration.

Abstract: Semiconductor devices having air gap spacers that are formed as part of BEOL or MOL layers of the semiconductor devices are provided, as well as methods for fabricating such air gap spacers. For example, a method comprises forming a first metallic structure and a second metallic structure on a substrate, wherein the first and second metallic structures are disposed adjacent to each other with insulating material disposed between the first and second metallic structures. The insulating material is etched to form a space between the first and second metallic structures. A layer of dielectric material is deposited over the first and second metallic structures using a pinch-off deposition process to form an air gap in the space between the first and second metallic structures, wherein a portion of the air gap extends above an upper surface of at least one of the first metallic structure and the second metallic structure.

Abstract: Expandable docking stations for docking an expandable valve can include a valve seat, one or in ore sealing portions, and one or more retaining portions. A system for deploying an expandable docking station can include a catheter having a sleeve for retaining the docking station.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular frame that has an inflow end and an outflow end and is radially compressible and expandable between a radially compressed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The prosthetic heart valve further includes a leaflet structure positioned within the frame and secured thereto, and an outer sealing member mounted outside of the frame and adapted to seal against surrounding tissue when the prosthetic heart valve is implanted within a native heart valve annulus of a patient. The sealing member can include a mesh layer and pile layer comprising a plurality of pile yarns extending outwardly from the mesh layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A prosthetic heart valve includes a valve structure and a frame. The valve structure includes a plurality of leaflets, and the leaflets are configured to move from an open configuration to a closed configuration. The valve structure is coupled to the frame. The frame includes an inflow end, an outflow end, a longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end to the outflow end, and a plurality of struts forming a plurality of rows of cells. Each row of cells extends in a circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. Adjacent cells in a row of cell are coupled together at a junction of the struts defining the adjacent cells, and at least one junction in one row of cells has a shape that is different than at least one other junction of the one row of cells.

Abstract: Low capacitance and high reliability interconnect structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a copper based interconnect structure in an opening of a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a capping layer on the copper based interconnect structure. The method further includes oxidizing the capping layer and any residual material formed on a surface of the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a barrier layer on the capping layer by outdiffusing a material from the copper based interconnect structure to a surface of the capping layer. The method further includes removing the residual material, while the barrier layer on the surface of the capping layer protects the capping layer.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a docking device involves implementing a three-dimensional (3D) weaving technique to form a 3D textile structure using a plurality of different types of fibers, heating the 3D textile structure on a shape-setting mold at a temperature above a melting point of a first type of fiber of the plurality of different types of fibers to set a cylindrical shape of the 3D textile structure, maintaining the 3D textile structure on the shape-setting mold to cool off for a period of time, and removing the 3D textile structure from the shape-setting mold.

Abstract: An expandable docking station frame includes a waist portion, a sealing portion connected to the waist portion, and a retaining portion connected to the sealing portion. The sealing portion is expandable radially outward of the waist portion to provide a seal against a first location of an inner surface of a circulatory system at a deployed position over a range of sizes of expansion. The retaining portion is expandable radially outward to engage a second location of the inner surface of the circulatory system at the deployed position, to retain the docking station at the deployed position in the circulatory system. When the expandable docking station frame is in an expanded and unconstrained state, the sealing portion and the retaining portion are joined by a concave profile portion radially inward of each of a first outermost diameter of the sealing portion and a second outermost diameter of the retaining portion.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve includes a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame having three commissure attachment portions and at least three rows of angled struts. The rows include a first row, a second row downstream of the first row, and a third row downstream of the second row. Each row of struts includes angled struts arranged in a zig-zag pattern defining a plurality of crowns. A leaflet structure includes three leaflets forming three commissures, each commissure being connected to one of the commissure attachment portions via sutures extending through apertures in the commissure attachment portions, wherein all of the apertures are located along the length of the frame between a first plane defined by the crowns of the second row of struts and a second plane defined by the crowns of the third row of struts.

Abstract: Low capacitance and high reliability interconnect structures and methods of manufacture are disclosed. The method includes forming a copper based interconnect structure in an opening of a dielectric material. The method further includes forming a capping layer on the copper based interconnect structure. The method further includes oxidizing the capping layer and any residual material formed on a surface of the dielectric material. The method further includes forming a barrier layer on the capping layer by outdiffusing a material from the copper based interconnect structure to a surface of the capping layer. The method further includes removing the residual material, while the barrier layer on the surface of the capping layer protects the capping layer.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A valve frame can have a tapered profile when mounted on a delivery shaft, with an inflow end portion having a smaller diameter than an outflow end portion. The valve can comprise generally V-shaped leaflets, reducing material within the inflow end of the frame. An outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack when the valve is expanded and lying flat against the frame when the valve is collapsed. A diagonally woven inner skirt can elongate axially with the frame. Side tabs of adjacent leaflets can extend through and be secured to window frame portions of the frame to form commissures. The window frame portions can be depressed radially inward relative to surrounding frame portions when the valve is crimped onto a delivery shaft.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve assembly includes a self-expandable stent having a flared upper portion, a lower portion, and an intermediate portion extending from the upper portion to the lower portion. The stent includes upwardly bent hooks extending from an outer surface of the stent, which are adapted to engage native leaflet tissue. The stent further includes an elongate anchoring member extending from the lower portion of the stent, which is adapted to be secured to a ventricle wall via a prong portion. When deployed within the native heart valve, the flared upper portion contacts a supra-annular surface of the native heart valve for preventing downward migration of the prosthetic heart valve assembly toward the ventricle and the upwardly bent hooks and the elongate anchoring member prevent upward migration of the prosthetic heart valve assembly toward an atrium.

Abstract: A docking device includes a hollow cylindrical body portion having an internal surface and an outer surface. The hollow cylindrical body portion is formed of a three-dimensional (3D) woven fabric comprising a plurality of different types of fibers.

Abstract: Embodiments of a radially collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve are disclosed. A valve frame can have a tapered profile when mounted on a delivery shaft, with an inflow end portion having a smaller diameter than an outflow end portion. The valve can comprise generally V-shaped leaflets, reducing material within the inflow end of the frame. An outer skirt can be secured to the outside of the inflow end portion of the frame, the outer skirt having longitudinal slack when the valve is expanded and lying flat against the frame when the valve is collapsed. A diagonally woven inner skirt can elongate axially with the frame. Side tabs of adjacent leaflets can extend through and be secured to window frame portions of the frame to form commissures. The window frame portions can be depressed radially inward relative to surrounding frame portions when the valve is crimped onto a delivery shaft.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve includes a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame having three commissure attachment portions and at least three rows of angled struts. The rows include a first row, a second row downstream of the first row, and a third row downstream of the second row. Each row of struts includes angled struts arranged in a zig-zag pattern defining a plurality of crowns. A leaflet structure includes three leaflets forming three commissures, each commissure being connected to one of the commissure attachment portions via sutures extending through apertures in the commissure attachment portions, wherein all of the apertures are located along the length of the frame between a first plane defined by the crowns of the second row of struts and a second plane defined by the crowns of the third row of struts.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve comprises a radially collapsible and expandable annular frame and a leaflet structure comprising three leaflets. Each leaflet has an upper edge portion, a curved lower edge portion and two side flaps, wherein each side flap is connected to an adjacent side flap of another leaflet to form commissures of the leaflet structure, with each commissure being attached to the frame. An annular inner sleeve comprises three U-shaped portions positioned along the curved lower edge portions of the leaflets. An annular outer sleeve extends around are outer surface of the frame, wherein the outer sleeve is made of pericardium. The frame is made of Nitinol and the prosthetic valve can be radially crimped to a radially collapsed configuration inside a sheath for delivery into a patient's body and self-expand to a radially expanded configuration when released from the sheath inside the patient's body.

Abstract: Devices and methods for reinforcing a tissue-based heart valve are provided. A reinforced tissue valve can provide structure and rigidity to withstand stresses that occur within the vasculature. In some instances, thickened tissue provides structure or rigidity. In some instances, a biocompatible filler is utilized within folded, rolled, or layered tissue. In some instances, a mesh is included with a reinforced tissue valve for further strength. In some instances, a mesh frame is utilized along the sidewall of a tissue-based heart valve. In some instances, a leaflet assembly is provided within a conduit having thickened tissue at the leaflet commissures.

Abstract: An expandable stent for implantation in a right ventricular outflow tract includes a frame having a waist portion that expands to a deployed size having a first diameter, first and second sealing portions extending in opposite directions from the waist portion and expanding radially outward of the waist portion. The first and second sealing portions are sized to seal against first and second portions of the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position over a range of sizes of expansion larger than the first diameter. A band is secured to the waist portion of the frame, restricting expansion of the waist portion substantially beyond the first diameter, such that the waist portion is configured to be spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve assembly includes a self-expandable stent having an inlet end and an outlet end and a passageway extending therethrough. The stent includes a plurality of rows of prongs on the outer surface of the stent. A valve portion comprising a plurality of leaflets is positioned within the passageway for permitting blood to flow through the passageway from the inlet end to the outlet end while blocking flow in the opposite direction. The stent further includes a flared upper portion shaped for placement along a supra-annular surface of an annulus for preventing downward migration of the prosthetic valve assembly into a ventricle. Each of the prongs has a tip pointing toward the inlet end for penetrating surrounding tissue and preventing upward migration of the prosthetic heart valve assembly toward an atrium.

Abstract: In a method of installing an expandable stent in a right ventricular outflow tract, a frame of the expandable stent is positioned at a deployed position in the right ventricular outflow tract, the frame including a waist portion, and first and second opposed sealing portions extending from the waist portion. The frame is expanded such that the waist portion expands to a first diameter, the first sealing portion expands to a second diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a first portion of an inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, and the second sealing portion expands to a third diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a second portion of the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, wherein the waist portion is spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position.