Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: A device and method for predictably and controlling the collapsing of a collapsible and expandable stent for subsequent translation through a delivery sheath lumen to an anatomical target such as a heart valve or intravascular location for expansion and implantation. The loading device defines in inner lumen comprising a successively decreasing, from the proximal to the distal direction, inner diameter to a region of constant inner diameter wherein the stent is in a collapsed configuration. The device and method may provide for an at least partially collapsed configuration of the stent that may be further collapsed as a part of the implantation procedure and may comprise a stent that is pre-loaded for future use.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve stent is provided that may be adapted to provide a one-way blood flow therethrough that targets blood flow at the posterior lateral side of a ventricle to enable a natural blood flow to persist post-implant.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being formed of a plurality of struts forming cells. A valve assembly is disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff. At least one runner is coupled to a cell and configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration when the stent moves from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end and a distal end, the stent being formed of a plurality of struts forming cells. A valve assembly is disposed within the stent, the valve assembly including a plurality of leaflets and a cuff. At least one runner is coupled to a cell and configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration when the stent moves from the collapsed condition to the expanded condition.

Abstract: Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

Abstract: Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

Abstract: A device and method for predictably and controlling the collapsing of a collapsible and expandable stent for subsequent translation through a delivery sheath lumen to an anatomical target such as a heart valve or intravascular location for expansion and implantation. The loading device defines in inner lumen comprising a successively decreasing, from the proximal to the distal direction, inner diameter alternating between two sections of decreasing diameter and two sections of constant diameter until reaching the inner diameter of the delivery sheath. A fluid-filled reservoir is provided at the proximal end of the loading device that is configured to provide moisture or wetting for materials associated with or attached to the stent that require moisture retention. Thus, as the stent is being collapsed with the loading device, at least a portion of the stent may be immersed in the fluid reservoir to preserve the subject material.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve may include a stent having an inflow end, an outflow end, a collapsed condition, and an expanded condition. The prosthetic valve may also include a collapsible and expandable valve assembly disposed within the stent and having a plurality of leaflets. The prosthetic valve and/or stent may include features to anchor the prosthetic valve to a native valve annulus and to seal the prosthetic valve with respect to the native valve annulus, such as planar and/or nonplanar annular sealing members coupled to ends of the stent. The stent may include one or more circumferential rows of anchor members or hooks extending radially outwardly from the stent. These hooks may be configured to extend in a particular direction when the stent is in the collapsed condition to facilitate resheathing of the stent if, upon deployment, a user determines the prosthetic heart valve is not positioned optimally.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic heart valve device with improved fit and/or apposition between the device frame and left atrial tissue and/or the device base and the annular tissue of the left atrium to improve shifting of the implanted device and/or mitigate paravalvular leakage. The improved fit and/or apposition arises in various embodiments by providing or allowing an asymmetrical frame and/or frame base and/or providing a lower lip to aid in conforming to the asymmetrical shape of the atrium and/or ensure firm positioning therein. An additional benefit of these arrangement(s) is mitigation of paravalvular leakage as a result of improved fit and seal. In certain embodiments, the asymmetry of the frame assists with delivery of the device into the atrium.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve for replacing a native valve includes a collapsible and expandable stent extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The stent includes an annulus section adjacent the proximal end and having a first diameter, a plurality of first struts forming cells, and a plurality of second struts connected to the annulus section and forming a plurality of deflecting cells expandable to define a second diameter larger than the first diameter. A valve assembly is disposed within the stent and a cuff is coupled to the stent and covers the plurality of deflecting cells.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, devices and systems for delivering, positioning and/or repositioning an expandable prosthetic heart valve in a patient's heart chamber. At least one non-looped wire and looped wire pair is operatively connected with an expanded prosthetic heart valve that is collapsed within a delivery catheter lumen having its distal end positioned in the subject heart chamber. The collapsed prosthetic heart valve is translated through the delivery catheter lumen to and out of its distal end where the prosthetic heart valve expands to a working configuration. The wire(s) of the non-looped and looped wire pair may be manipulated by pulling proximately or pushing distally to position or reposition the expanded prosthetic stent into position, then released from connection with the positioned stent and withdrawn from the patient.

Abstract: A collapsible and expandable prosthetic heart valve stent is provided and comprising an outer section, a valve support defining a flow channel therethrough, a transition section configured to smoothly transition the outer section to the valve support. The valve support is disposed within an interior defined by the outer section, with the inflow end of the valve support disposed inside the outer section's interior. In some cases, the outflow end of the valve support is at least partially defined by the transition section. The prosthetic leaflets are disposed on the inner surface of the valve support's flow channel and are located at or above the annulus of the heart chamber. A paravalvular leakage mitigation system is attached to the stent to mitigate retrograde blood flow and/or regurgitation.

Abstract: A loading, delivery, deployment and positioning system for a prosthetic heart valve device includes a stent that is biased to expand and adapted to collapse into the lumen of a delivery catheter. A torque wire of the system includes a distal threaded region, has length that is longer than a length of the delivery catheter, and is adapted for movement within the delivery catheter lumen. A stent cap is non-rotationally attached at or near the top of the stent and defines a channel and a pair of lateral locking grooves therethrough. A male engagement member of the system includes a threaded region adapted to threadingly engage the threaded region of the torque wire, a stem region extending distally from the threaded region; and engagement handles extending laterally from a distal end of the stem region, the engagement handles being adapted to detachably engage the stent cap.

Abstract: Loading systems for prosthetic heart valve devices are disclosed. A loading funnel is provided within a watertight interior space that is at least partially filled or fillable with biocompatible fluid. Funnel may have a cylindrical end to which is connected a delivery catheter having a lumen that will receive the collapsed prosthetic heart valve device. An expanded prosthetic heart valve device may be placed within the funnel and pushed or pulled into the funnel which provides a predictable, reliable and repeatable surface for collapsing the prosthetic heart valve device. Ultimately the prosthetic heart valve device is collapsed and translated into the lumen of the delivery catheter for further translation therealong and release into the heart chamber of interest.

Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a prosthetic heart valve device with improved fit, apposition and/or paravalvular leakage mitigation. Thus, the prosthetic device comprises an anchoring structure for supporting prosthetic valve leaflets, wherein the anchoring structure comprises and/or is formed at least partially from a hydrophilic material designed to swell when contacted by the water solute in the patient's blood. Locating the hydrophilic material to provide swelling to improve the fit and/or apposition of the device to the patient's tissues results in, inter alia, improved paravalvular leakage mitigation. Some of the methods and mechanisms described herein may also be used to provide a seal against the septal hole created during transseptal delivery of the device.

Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: Embodiments of delivery systems, devices and methods for delivering a prosthetic heart valve device to a heart chamber for expanded implementation are disclosed. More specifically, methods, systems and devices are disclosed for delivering a self-expanding prosthetic mitral valve device to the left atrium, with no engagement of the left ventricle, the native mitral valve leaflets or the annular tissue downstream of the upper annular surface during delivery, and in some embodiments with no engagement of the ventricle, mitral valve leaflets and/or annular tissue located downstream of the upper annular surface by the delivered, positioned and expanded prosthetic mitral valve device.

Abstract: The invention provides methods, devices and systems for delivering, positioning and/or repositioning an expandable prosthetic heart valve in a patient's heart chamber. At least one non-looped wire and looped wire pair is operatively connected with an expanded prosthetic heart valve that is collapsed within a delivery catheter lumen having its distal end positioned in the subject heart chamber. The collapsed prosthetic heart valve is translated through the delivery catheter lumen to and out of its distal end where the prosthetic heart valve expands to a working configuration. The wire(s) of the non-looped and looped wire pair may be manipulated by pulling proximately or pushing distally to position or reposition the expanded prosthetic stent into position, then released from connection with the positioned stent and withdrawn from the patient.