Minimally invasive valve replacement system

Claim 2

1 . A valve assembly comprising: a replacement valve; an anchoring structure; and native valve removal means comprising cutting means selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, ultrasound, and sharp edge cutting means.

Claim 3

2 . The valve assembly of claim 1 , wherein said valve is positioned internally to said anchoring structure.

Claim 4

3 . The valve assembly of claim 2 , wherein said valve comprises an inflow annulus, an outflow annulus, and a plurality of leaflets.

Claim 5

4 . The valve assembly of claim 3 , wherein said inflow annulus is scalloped.

Claim 6

5 . A method of endovascularly implanting a valve assembly through a vessel, comprising the steps of: providing a collapsibly expandable valve assembly comprising an anchoring structure with an annulus base and a collapsible valve connected to the anchoring structure, the collapsible valve being configured to permit flow in a direction and prevent flow in an opposite direction, the anchoring structure having cutting means located at about the annulus base for cutting a native valve; passing the valve assembly through the vessel with the anchoring structure in a collapsed state; advancing the cutting means against the native valve with the anchoring structure in a partially expanded state;cutting at least a portion of the native valve by deploying the cutting means; and securing the valve assembly to the desired valve location with the anchoring structure in the expanded state.

Claim 7

5 . A method of endovascularly implanting a valve assembly through a vessel, comprising the steps of: providing a collapsibly expandable valve assembly comprising an anchoring structure with an annulus base and a collapsible valve connected to the anchoring structure, the collapsible valve being configured to permit flow in a direction and prevent flow in an opposite direction, the anchoring structure having cutting means located at about the annulus base for cutting a native valve; passing the valve assembly through the vessel with the anchoring structure in a collapsed state; advancing the cutting means against the native valve with the anchoring structure in a partially expanded state;cutting at least a portion of the native valve by deploying the cutting means; and securing the valve assembly to the desired valve location with the anchoring structure in the expanded state.

Claim 8

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the collapsibly expandable valve is a biological valve.

Claim 9

7 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the collapsibly expandable valve is a nonbiological valve.

Claim 10

8 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cutting means comprises a plurality of sharp edge elements, each sharp edge element having a sharp end enabling said sharp edge element to cut through at least a portion of the native valve.

Claim 11

9 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cutting means comprises a plurality of electrode elements, and wherein radiofrequency energy is delivered to each electrode element enabling said electrode element to cut through at least a portion of the native valve.

Claim 12

10 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the cutting means comprises a plurality of ultrasound transducer elements, and wherein ultrasound energy is delivered to each transducer element enabling said transducer element to cut through at least a portion of the native valve.

Claim 13

11 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least a portion of the native valve is a leaflet.

Claim 14

12 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the advancing step is carried out with the anchoring structure placed on an inflatable balloon, and wherein the anchoring structure is in a partially expanded state.

Claim 15

13 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the securing step is carried out by inflating a balloon so that the balloon moves the anchoring structure from the partially collapsed state to the expanded state.

Claim 16

14 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the passing step is carried out by coupling the anchoring structure to a catheter.

Claim 17

15 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the catheter further comprises filter means for entrapping the cut portion of the native valve.

Claim 18

16 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the providing step is carried out with the collapsible valve having three valve leaflets.

Claim 19

17 . A valve assembly to be endovascularly implanted through a vessel, comprising: a collapsibly expandable anchoring structure having an inflow rim, wherein the inflow rim comprises cutting means sized and configured for cutting at least a portion of a native valve; and a collapsible valve connected to the anchoring structure, wherein the collapsible valve is configured to permit flow in a direction and prevent flow in an opposite direction.

Claim 20

17 . A valve assembly to be endovascularly implanted through a vessel, comprising: a collapsibly expandable anchoring structure having an inflow rim, wherein the inflow rim comprises cutting means sized and configured for cutting at least a portion of a native valve; and a collapsible valve connected to the anchoring structure, wherein the collapsible valve is configured to permit flow in a direction and prevent flow in an opposite direction.

Claim 21

18 . The valve assembly of claim 17 , wherein the cutting means is selected from the group consisting of radiofrequency, ultrasound and sharp edge cutting means.