Abstract: A device for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve on biological tissue, includes first and second anchoring assemblies, mutually couplable to secure biological tissue therebetween. The anchoring assemblies include at least one pair of complementary arched portions having anchoring formations for anchoring on the biological tissue. The anchoring formations include integral extensions of the anchoring assemblies extending radially outwardly of one of the anchoring assemblies.

Abstract: A device for anchoring on biological tissue a prosthetic heart valve, includes first and second anchoring assemblies mutually couplable to secure biological tissue therebetween. The anchoring assemblies include at least one pair of complementary arched portions having anchoring formations for anchoring on the biological tissue. The anchoring formations include integral extensions of the anchoring assemblies extending radially outwardly of one of the anchoring assemblies.

Abstract: Described is a valve prosthesis comprising: an annular structure, and a plurality of valve leaflets, and a plurality of anchoring members attached around the annular structure, the anchoring members including: a web portion coupled to the annular structure and extending axially thereto, and two end portions at axially opposed sides of the web portion, the end portions having: an insertion condition for insertion of the prosthesis, wherein the end portions are aligned to the web portion and extend axially with respect to the annular structure; and an anchoring condition for anchoring the prosthesis, wherein the end portions extend at an angle to the web portion radially outwardly of the annular structure to provide anchoring of the prosthesis proximally and distally, respectively, of the annulus, and wherein one end portion forms an obtuse angle with the web portion.

Abstract: A support device for implanting a stentless heart valve prosthesis having three leaflets adapted for coapting and defining three corresponding commissures is disclosed. The support device includes a shaft defining a manipulation axis, the shaft having a proximal portion and a distal portion, and three support formations integrally formed and extending from the proximal end of the shaft, the support formations angularly distributed about the manipulation axis of the shaft, such that each of the support formations correspond to locations of each of the commissures of the stentless heart valve prosthesis. The shaft includes a connection portion flexibly connecting the shaft and the support formations to permit a displacement of the manipulation axis with respect to the support formations. The shaft, the plurality of support formations and the connection portion are integrally formed from a single tubular element.

Abstract: A kit for facilitating crimping of a prosthetic heart valve for implantation at an aortic valve site in a human heart, the aortic valve site including a plurality of valve sinuses, the kit comprising a prosthetic aortic heart valve having a tubular structure and a first central axis including an anchoring structure comprising an annular outflow member, an annular inflow member, and a plurality of axial connection formations arranged in pairs angularly distributed around the central axis, and a plurality of leaflets coupled to the anchoring structure and adapted to substantially allow blood flow in a first direction and to substantially prevent blood flow in a second direction.

Abstract: A collapsible valve prosthesis includes an armature and a set of prosthetic valve leaflets supported by the armature. The armature is expandable from a contracted condition to an expanded condition for anchoring at an annulus of a natural valve site, and includes a tubular intra-annular portion defining a blood flow lumen having an inflow side and an outflow side. The tubular intra-annular portion supports the prosthetic valve leaflets in the blood flow lumen and is provided with outward formations for coupling with the natural valve site. The armature includes an over-annular portion linked to the intra-annular portion to extend collar-like over the annulus of the natural valve site at the inflow side of the blood flow lumen. The armature may also include an under-annular portion to extend collar-like at the outflow side of the blood flow lumen. The prosthesis may permit mitral valve replacement (MVR) without removing the native valve leaflets and the chordae tendineae.

Abstract: A prosthetic vascular conduit for coupling to a valve having an annular portion includes a terminal collar member, radially expandable to receive the annular portion of the valve. The collar member includes a portion which is radially contractible to capture the annular portion of the valve to couple the valve to the conduit.

Abstract: An instrument for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis in a vessel includes a wire element to slidingly guide the valve prosthesis towards an implantation site and an expandable element coupled to the wire element. The expandable element is expandable in the vessel to position the wire element in association with the implantation site. A method for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis includes securing a delivery instrument at an appropriate location at the implantation site and delivering the valve prosthesis to the implantation site using the delivery instrument.

Abstract: An angioplasty stent comprises a body comprising a plurality of successive segments connected in pairs by bridge means so that the successive segments can be oriented relative to one another for the purposes of bending of the body in any direction defined by a linear combination of respective orientation axes defined by the bridge connection means. During the radial expansion of the stent, the axial contraction of the segments resulting from the opening-out of the respective loops is compensated by axial projection of the bridge elements from the respective concave portions. The wall of the body comprises arms for supporting a lumen as well as regions which are selectively deformable during the expansion of the stent, the arms and the selectively deformable regions having different cross-sections and/or cross-sectional areas. At least one portion of the body may have a substantially reticular structure, the branches of which define geometrical figures identifiable as fractals.

Abstract: A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes at least one constraint member for radially constraining radially expandable annular portions of the valve. The constraint member is actuatable to release the annular formations constrained thereby and permit radial expansion of these annular formations. The constraint member has associated a first, slow-acting actuating mechanism and a second, fast-acting mechanism, adapted to produce relatively slow and fast release of the annular formations constrained thereby. The device may include a first constraint member and second constraint member in the form of telescoping sleeves. The slow-acting actuating mechanism will thus act on the outer sleeve, while the fast-acting mechanism will act on the inner sleeve to produce, respectively, slow and fast release of the annular formations.

Abstract: A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes a distal valve holder portion and a shaft extending towards the valve holder portion. The shaft is selectively bendable to a curved shape to vary the spatial orientation of the valve holder portion with respect to the desired implantation site.

Abstract: A support device for implanting stentless valve prostheses, such as biological heart valves, includes a hub and a plurality of support portions for supporting the stentless valve prosthesis. The hub defines a manipulation axis for the device and is flexibly connected to the support portions to allow displacing the manipulation axis for the device between the support portions.

Abstract: An instrument for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis in a vessel includes a wire element to slidingly guide the valve prosthesis towards an implantation site and an expandable element coupled to the wire element. The expandable element is expandable in the vessel to position the wire element in association with the implantation site. A method for positioning a cardiac valve prosthesis includes securing a delivery instrument at an appropriate location at the implantation site and delivering the valve prosthesis to the implantation site using the delivery instrument.

Abstract: An angioplasty stent comprises a body comprising a plurality of successive segments connected in pairs by bridge means so that the successive segments can be oriented relative to one another for the purposes of bending of the body in any direction defined by a linear combination of respective orientation axes defined by the bridge connection means. During the radial expansion of the stent, the axial contraction of the segments resulting from the opening-out of the respective loops is compensated by axial projection of the bridge elements from the respective concave portions. The wall of the body comprises arms for supporting a lumen as well as regions which are selectively deformable during the expansion of the stent, the arms and the selectively deformable regions having different cross-sections and/or cross-sectional areas. At least one portion of the body may have a substantially reticular structure, the branches of which define geometrical figures identifiable as fractals.

Abstract: A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes a distal valve holder portion and a shaft extending towards the valve holder portion. The shaft is selectively bendable to a curved shape to vary the spatial orientation of the valve holder portion with respect to the desired implantation site.

Abstract: A device for locating an operational unit within a patient's body within the framework of a minimally-invasive surgery intervention includes a shaft having a distal end carrying an operational unit. The device includes an illuminator located at the distal end of the shaft. The illuminator is selectively adjustable to provide a selectively variable lighting field in correspondence with the operational unit. The device may be, for example, a delivery system for a heart valve or a balloon device for post-dilation of such a heart valve once implanted.

Abstract: A device for deploying a cardiac valve prosthesis includes at least one constraint member for radially constraining radially expandable annular portions of the valve. The constraint member is actuatable to release the annular formations constrained thereby and permit radial expansion of these annular formations. The constraint member has associated a first, slow-acting actuating mechanism and a second, fast-acting mechanism, adapted to produce relatively slow and fast release of the annular formations constrained thereby. The device may include a first constraint member and second constraint member in the form of telescoping sleeves. The slow-acting actuating mechanism will thus act on the outer sleeve, while the fast-acting mechanism will act on the inner sleeve to produce, respectively, slow and fast release of the annular formations.

Abstract: A prosthetic vascular conduit for coupling to a valve having an annular portion includes a terminal collar member, radially expandable to receive the annular portion of the valve. The collar member includes a portion which is radially contractible to capture the annular portion of the valve to couple the valve to the conduit.

Abstract: A stent has a substantially tubular body defining a longitudinal axis including first and second adjacent annular segments, each segment defining a substantially sinusoidal shape having a plurality of peaks and valleys, the peaks of the first segment extending toward the second segment and being aligned longitudinally with the valleys of the second segment. A plurality of bridge elements interconnect the annular segments. Each bridge element has a U-shaped portion between first and second connector arms, the first connector arm of one bridge element being connected between a first peak and a first valley of the first segment and the second connector arm of the one bridge element being connected between a first peak and a first valley of the second segment.

Abstract: An angioplasty stent comprises a body comprising a plurality of successive segments connected in pairs by bridge means so that the successive segments can be oriented relative to one another for the purposes of bending of the body in any direction defined by a linear combination of respective orientation axes defined by the bridge connection means. During the radial expansion of the stent, the axial contraction of the segments resulting from the opening-out of the respective loops is compensated by axial projection of the bridge elements from the respective concave portions. The wall of the body comprises arms for supporting a lumen as well as regions which are selectively deformable during the expansion of the stent, the arms and the selectively deformable regions having different cross-sections and/or cross-sectional areas. At least one portion of the body may have a substantially reticular structure, the branches of which define geometrical figures identifiable as fractals.