Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a balloon-expandable stent including a plurality of struts and a plurality of commissure posts, each commissure post containing an elongated slot. A plurality of leaflets is made from pericardial tissue and includes flaps. An intermediate polymer sheet is disposed between the stent and the plurality of leaflets. At least one reinforcing polymer core is attached to at least one leaflet and the intermediate polymer sheet using stitches that loop around an end of the at least one leaflet. A plurality of patches covers the elongated slots of the commissure posts, the flaps of the leaflets being attached to the patches. A cuff contacts an exterior of the stent, the cuff and the intermediate polymer sheet sutured to one another so as to cover an axial end of the stent.

Abstract: A delivery system for delivering and deploying a medical implant, such as a prosthetic heart valve, includes an elongated support member, a sheath, and a tip. The sheath is movable relative to the elongated support member between a distal position overlying the medical implant and a proximal position exposing the medical implant for release from the delivery system. The tip is attached to the elongated support member and is positioned at a distal end of the sheath when the sheath is in the distal position. The tip has a compressed condition and an expanded condition, and a maximum diameter in the expanded condition that is larger than the outer diameter of the sheath.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annularly collapsible and re-expandable supporting structure extending between an inflow end and an outflow end and including a plurality of struts, a plurality of leaflets disposed inside the supporting structure and operative to allow flow in a first direction from the inflow end to the outflow end and to substantially block flow in an opposite direction from the outflow end to the inflow end, a sheet circumferentially disposed on an inner surface of the supporting structure and coupled to the supporting structure, a reinforcing core coupled to at least one of the plurality of leaflets, and a plurality of stitches coupling the reinforcing core to the sheet and one of the plurality of leaflets.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annularly collapsible and re-expandable supporting structure extending between an inflow end and an outflow end and including a plurality of struts and a plurality of posts, each post having an elongated opening, a plurality of leaflets disposed inside the supporting structure and operative to allow flow in a first direction from the inflow end to the outflow end and to substantially block flow in an opposite direction from the outflow end to the inflow end, each of the plurality of leaflets including flaps, and a first patch covering the opening of a first post, the first patch being attached to a first flap of a first leaflet.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annularly collapsible and re-expandable supporting structure extending between an inflow end and an outflow end and including a plurality of struts, the inflow end having an inflow edge, a plurality of leaflets disposed inside the supporting structure and operative to allow flow in an antegrade direction from the inflow end to the outflow end but to substantially block flow in a retrograde direction from the outflow end to the inflow end, a first material disposed on a luminal surface of the supporting structure adjacent the inflow end, and a second material disposed on an abluminal surface of the supporting structure adjacent the inflow end, the first material and the second material being secured to selected struts of the supporting structure, and separately secured to each other adjacent the inflow edge.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes a stent having an expanded condition and a collapsed condition. The stent includes a plurality of distal cells, a plurality of proximal cells, a plurality of support struts coupling the proximal cells to the distal cells, and at least one support post connected to a plurality of proximal cells. The proximal cells are longitudinally spaced apart from the distal cells. Various strut configurations and connections of the struts to the proximal cells and of the proximal cells to the support post improve stent flexibility and reduce stress in the valve leaflets.

Abstract: A delivery device for a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes a support shaft around which a compartment for the valve is defined, a distal sheath adapted to selectively cover and uncover the compartment and the valve, and a marker cage having a collapsed condition when the distal sheath covers the compartment and an expanded condition when the compartment is uncovered. The marker cage includes at least one rib having a radiopaque marker for determining the positioning of the valve as it is deployed. The valve may be assembled around the marker cage so that the marker cage does not interfere with the radial expansion of the valve during deployment.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve is circumferentially collapsible for less invasive delivery into a patient. The valve re-expands to operating size at the implant site in the patient. A frame structure of the valve includes restraining structure that can help to push one or more of the patient's native heart valve leaflets radially outwardly so that this native leaflet tissue does not interfere with the operation or service life of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves, which are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size for less invasive delivery into a patient and which then re-expand to operating size at an implant site in the patient, include a collapsible/expandable stent-like supporting structure and various components of flexible, sheet-like material that are attached to the supporting structure. For example, these sheet-like other components may include prosthetic valve leaflets, layers of buffering material, cuff material, etc. Improved structures and techniques are provided for securing such other components to the stent-like supporting structure of the valve.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves, which are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size for less invasive delivery into a patient and which then re-expand to operating size at an implant site in the patient, include a collapsible/expandable stent-like supporting structure and various components of flexible, sheet-like material that are attached to the supporting structure. For example, these sheet-like other components may include prosthetic valve leaflets, layers of buffering material, cuff material, etc. Improved structures and techniques are provided for securing such other components to the stent-like supporting structure of the valve.

Abstract: Apparatus for use with a prosthetic heart valve includes a holder, to which the heart valve is releasably attached, and an elongated handle. The handle can be connected to the holder simply by pushing a distal end of the handle straight into a recess in the holder. After this has been done, the holder preferably releasable latches onto the handle, and the handle can also be rotated about its longitudinal axis to transmit torque to the holder (e.g., a rotatable portion of the holder). Rotation of such a rotatable portion of the holder can be used to deflect portions of the valve radially inward. This operation of a rotatable portion of the holder is preferably one-way-only. The handle can be released from the holder at any time, and it can similarly be reconnected to the holder at any time.

Abstract: An adjustment assembly for an adjustable prosthetic valve device includes a gearbox housing formed from two gearbox shells coupled to one another and held together by two gearbox sleeves each having an internal cavity adapted to accommodate respective lateral portions of the gearbox shells when the gearbox shells are coupled to one another. A gear assembly, including a center gear and two driven gears, is supported within the gearbox housing. Gear teeth of each of the driven gears engage gear teeth of the center gear such that rotation of the center gear causes rotation of the driven gears. At least one of the driven gears is adapted to engage a transmission mechanism that transmits the rotation thereof to another part of the adjustable prosthetic valve device to accomplish an adjustment to the size and/or shape of the adjustable prosthetic valve device.

Abstract: A repair device for repairing a heart valve leaflet in a patient includes a hollow body with a capture tool and a tissue puncture element at the distal end thereof. The capture tool may be used to capture and stabilize the heart valve leaflet tissue. The tissue puncture element may puncture the leaflet tissue and deploy at least one anchor having a length of suture attached thereto. By tensioning the suture, the leaflet tissue may become plicated. The tensioned suture may then be cinched to maintain the plication.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve is circumferentially collapsible for less invasive delivery into a patient. The valve re-expands to operating size at the implant site in the patient. A frame structure of the valve includes restraining structure that can help to push one or more of the patient's native heart valve leaflets radially outwardly so that this native leaflet tissue does not interfere with the operation or service life of the prosthetic valve.

Abstract: An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve has a sewing cuff added to the conventional structure. The sewing cuff is preferably an extension of the fabric cover that is provided around the core of the prosthesis. The sewing cuff preferably extends radially outwardly from cross sections of the remainder of the prosthesis. Methods of making such a sewing cuff are also disclosed.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves, which are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size for less invasive delivery into a patient and which then re-expand to operating size at an implant site in the patient, include a collapsible/expandable stent-like supporting structure and various components of flexible, sheet-like material that are attached to the supporting structure. For example, these sheet-like other components may include prosthetic valve leaflets, layers of buffering material, cuff material, etc. Improved structures and techniques are provided for securing such other components to the stent-like supporting structure of the valve.

Abstract: Prosthetic heart valves, which are collapsible to a relatively small circumferential size for less invasive delivery into a patient and which then re-expand to operating size at an implant site in the patient, include a collapsible/expandable stent-like supporting structure and various components of flexible, sheet-like material that are attached to the supporting structure. For example, these sheet-like other components may include prosthetic valve leaflets, layers of buffering material, cuff material, etc. Improved structures and techniques are provided for securing such other components to the stent-like supporting structure of the valve.