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 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 includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a plurality of commissure features disposed on the stent. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly includes a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features, each commissure feature including a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of eyelets is arranged in rows and columns on the body for distributing load from 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, 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 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 includes a stent having a collapsed condition and an expanded condition, the stent having a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of commissure features. The heart valve further includes a valve assembly secured to the stent, the valve assembly including a cuff and a plurality of leaflets, each of the leaflets having a free edge having a first end and a second end, and a second edge secured to the cuff, the second edge having a first end, a second end, a first folded portion adjacent the first end, a second folded portion adjacent the second end, and an unfolded portion between the first and second folded portions. The first and second folded portions couple the leaflet to ones of the commissure features.

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: 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 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 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 prosthetic heart valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent and a plurality of commissure features disposed on the stent. A collapsible and expandable valve assembly includes a plurality of leaflets connected to the plurality of commissure features, each commissure feature including a body having a proximal end and a distal end. A plurality of eyelets is arranged in rows and columns on the body for distributing load from the plurality of leaflets.

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 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 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 a collapsed condition and an expanded condition. The stent has a proximal end, a distal end and a plurality of cells, each cell being formed by a plurality of struts. A valve assembly is secured to the stent and includes a cuff and a plurality of leaflets. The plurality of leaflets are attached to the cuff adjacent an underwire that extends about the perimeter of the cuff.

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.