Abstract: An assembly can comprise a radially expandable and compressible annular frame, at least one linear actuator assembly coupled to the frame and at least one locking mechanism coupled to the frame. The linear actuator can be configured to apply a distally directed force and/or a proximally directed force to the frame to radially expand or compress the frame. The locking mechanism can comprise a first sleeve member connected to the frame at a first location, a second sleeve member having internal threads and being connected to the frame at a second location, and a first screw configured to engage the internal threads of the second sleeve member to retain the frame in a radially expanded state.

Abstract: A medical assembly can include a radially expandable prosthetic heart valve and a delivery apparatus. The delivery apparatus can include a handle, an actuation member, and a force limiting mechanism within the handle including a pivot arm coupled to a base portion. The actuation member can apply a proximally directed force to the prosthetic valve to cause the valve to expand. The actuation member can be coupled to the pivot arm such that a force applied to the actuation member causes the pivot arm to pivot. The force limiting mechanism can pinch the actuation member between the pivot arm and the base portion when the force applied to the actuation member exceeds a predetermined force to prevent proximal movement of the actuation member and can allow proximal movement of the actuation member to produce radial expansion of the prosthetic valve when the force applied is less than the predetermined force.

Abstract: Docking stations for transcatheter valves are described. The docking stations can include an expandable frame, at least one sealing portion, and a valve seat. The expandable frame can be configured to conform to an interior shape of a portion of the circulatory system when expanded inside the circulatory system. The sealing portion can be configured to contact an interior surface of the circulatory system to create a seal. The valve seat can be connected to the expandable frame and can be configured to support an expandable transcatheter valve. The docking stations are adaptable to different anatomies/locations to allow implantation of a transcatheter valve in a variety of anatomies/locations.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve that is radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration includes an annular frame including a plurality of angled strut members, and a skirt member secured to the frame. The skirt member includes a plurality of extension portions wrapped around at least one strut member adjacent the extension portions. The prosthetic valve further includes a cord member threaded through at least a portion of the plurality of extension portions to secure the skirt member to the at least one strut member.

Abstract: A prosthetic valve has an annular frame including a plurality of strut members that is radially collapsible to a collapsed configuration and radially expandable to an expanded configuration. A leaflet structure is situated at least partially within the frame. The leaflet structure includes a plurality of leaflets, each leaflet having opposing commissure tab portions on opposite sides of the leaflet. Each commissure tab portion is paired with an adjacent commissure tab portion of an adjacent leaflet to form a commissure. The commissure tab portions of each leaflet are folded to form a plurality of layers positioned on the inside of the frame. A reinforcement member is positioned between the layers of each commissure tab portion.

Abstract: An implantable prosthetic valve assembly, according to one embodiment, comprises a frame assembly including a plurality of struts and a prosthetic valve secured inside the frame assembly by sutures. The sutures are inward of the outermost surface of an outer periphery of the frame assembly. In certain embodiments the struts contain recesses in which sutures can be disposed. In other embodiments, the struts can have holes through them which the sutures pass through. The implantable prosthetic valve assembly can also be collapsed within a catheter such that an outermost surface of a periphery of the frame assembly touches the catheter but the sutures are spaced apart from the catheter or are flush with the outer surface of the frame.

Abstract: A prosthetic heart valve includes an annular frame including a plurality of strut members that is radially collapsible and expandable. A leaflet structure is situated within the frame, and includes a plurality of leaflets having opposing commissure tab portions on opposite sides of the leaflet. Each commissure tab portion is paired with an adjacent commissure tab portion of an adjacent leaflet to form one or more commissures. A commissure support element is positioned at each of the commissures, and comprise a first member and a second member that are separable from each other and configured to receive leaflets therebetween. The first and second members are detached from the frame and spaced radially inwardly from the frame such that the members contact the leaflets radially inward from the frame and limit movement of the leaflets so that they articulate at a location that is spaced radially inwardly from the frame.

Abstract: A radially expandable prosthetic valve can comprise an annular frame, at least one expansion mechanism and a cord. The annular frame can be radially collapsible and expandable between a radially collapsed configuration and a radially expanded configuration. The expansion mechanism can comprise a first member attached to the frame at a first location and a second member attached to the frame at a second location axially spaced from the first location. The cord can extend at least partially along the expansion mechanism in a first direction, be reeved around a portion of the second member, and extend at least partially along the expansion mechanism in a second direction opposite the first direction. Applying a proximally directed force to a first portion of the cord can cause the second member to move relative to the first member, which can cause the frame to foreshorten axially and expand radially.

Abstract: A delivery apparatus including a measurement device to monitor the real-time diameter of a prosthetic heart valve can include a handle, at least one first actuator extending from the handle and being configured to apply a distally directed force to a proximal end portion of a prosthetic heart valve, at least one second actuator extending from the handle and being configured to apply a proximally directed force to a distal end portion of a prosthetic heart valve, a sensor, and first and second motion-transmitting members coupled to the first and second actuators, respectively, and having proximal ends coupled to the sensor, wherein the sensor senses relative movement between the motion-transmitting members upon actuation of the first and second actuators to determine the diameter of the prosthetic heart valve as it expands from a radially compressed configuration to a radially expanded configuration.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a storage container for an expandable prosthetic heart valve that crimps the valve upon opening the container and removal of the valve from the container. The container includes a housing sized to receive the heart valve in its expanded configuration and a crimping mechanism. The crimping mechanism is incorporated into the container and engages the heart valve so as to operably convert the heart valve from its expanded configuration to its smaller crimped configuration upon opening the container and removing the valve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a prosthetic valve can comprise a radially expandable and compressible frame, which can include a plurality of struts which are pivotally joined together without requiring individual rivets. In some embodiments, the struts are interwoven, and can be joined using integral hinges formed in the struts, such as by performing alternate cuts on the struts, bending the struts to form stopper tabs adjacent to joints and/or drilling holes in the struts to facilitate interconnecting struts at joints, or otherwise forming integral hinges and corresponding holes at junction points between the struts. In another embodiment, the frame comprises a plurality of inner struts and outer struts which are connected by a plurality of chains of interconnected rivets, avoiding the need to provide individual rivets at each junction between struts. In still another embodiment, separate hinges or flanged rivets are provided to interconnect the struts.

Abstract: A method for improving leaflet prolapse and/or valve regurgitation associated with a heart valve involves delivering a spacer device into a ventricle of a heart using a delivery system comprising a catheter, fixing the spacer device to a wall of the ventricle, expanding the spacer device to reposition a papillary muscle disposed in the ventricle away from the wall, the papillary muscle being connected to a leaflet of an atrioventricular heart valve via chordae tendineae, and releasing the spacer device from the catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of crimping a prosthetic heart valve using a compact crimping mechanism. The crimping mechanism includes a plurality of jaws configured for coordinated inward movement toward a crimping axis to reduce the size of a crimping iris around a stented valve. A rotating cam wheel acts on the jaws and displaces them inward. An actuation mechanism includes a lead screw, carriage assembly and a linkage to rotate the cam wheel with significant torque.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are inflators and methods of using the inflators for inflating inflatable devices, such as balloons, used in medical procedures. Such procedures include angioplasty and the transcatheter delivery of prosthetic heart valves and stents. The inflators overcome the resistances typically generated during such procedures and reduces the force required to fully inflate the balloon.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a method of assembling a prosthetic valve can comprise forming a radially expandable and compressible frame by pivotally joining together a plurality of struts without requiring individual rivets. In some embodiments, the frame is formed by interweaving the struts, which can be joined using integral hinges formed in the struts, such as by performing alternate cuts on the struts, bending the struts to form stopper tabs adjacent to joints and/or drilling holes in the struts to facilitate interconnecting struts at joints, or otherwise forming integral hinges and corresponding holes at junction points between the struts. In other embodiments, separate hinges are provided to interconnect the struts. In still other embodiments, separate flanged rivets are provided to connect the struts.

Abstract: A method for improving leaflet prolapse and/or valve regurgitation associated with a heart valve involves delivering a spacer device into a ventricle of a heart using a delivery system comprising a catheter, fixing the spacer device to a wall of the ventricle, expanding the spacer device to reposition a papillary muscle disposed in the ventricle away from the wall, the papillary muscle being connected to a leaflet of an atrioventricular heart valve via chordae tendineae, and releasing the spacer device from the catheter.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a storage container for an expandable prosthetic heart valve that crimps the valve upon opening the container and removal of the valve from the container. The container includes a housing sized to receive the heart valve in its expanded configuration and a crimping mechanism. The crimping mechanism is incorporated into the container and engages the heart valve so as to operably convert the heart valve from its expanded configuration to its smaller crimped configuration upon opening the container and removing the valve.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a prosthetic valve can comprise a radially expandable and compressible frame, which can include a plurality of struts which are pivotally joined together without requiring individual rivets. In some embodiments, the struts are interwoven, and can be joined using integral hinges formed in the struts, such as by performing alternate cuts on the struts, bending the struts to form stopper tabs adjacent to joints and/or drilling holes in the struts to facilitate interconnecting struts at joints, or otherwise forming integral hinges and corresponding holes at junction points between the struts. In another embodiment, the frame comprises a plurality of inner struts and outer struts which are connected by a plurality of chains of interconnected rivets, avoiding the need to provide individual rivets at each junction between struts. In still another embodiment, separate hinges are provided to interconnect the struts.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are inflators and methods of using the inflators for inflating inflatable devices, such as balloons, used in medical procedures. Such procedures include angioplasty and the transcatheter delivery of prosthetic heart valves and stents. The inflators overcome the resistances typically generated during such procedures and reduces the force required to fully inflate the balloon.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of crimping a prosthetic heart valve using a compact crimping mechanism. The crimping mechanism includes a plurality of jaws configured for coordinated inward movement toward a crimping axis to reduce the size of a crimping iris around a stented valve. A rotating cam wheel acts on the jaws and displaces them inward. A number of Cartesian guide elements cooperate with the jaws to distribute forces within the crimping mechanism. The guide elements are located between the crimping jaws and an outer housing and are constrained by the outer housing for movement along lines that are tangential to a circle centered on the crimping axis. The guide elements engage at least some of the crimping jaws while the rest are in meshing engagement so as to move in synch. An actuation mechanism includes a lead screw, carriage assembly and a linkage to rotate the cam wheel with significant torque.