Device for replacing a cardiac valve by percutaneous route

Claim 1

A device ( 1 ) for replacing, via a percutaneous route, a heart valve ( 55 , 56 ) located in a bodily vessel ( 50 ), characterized in that it comprises: an elongate support element ( 2 ); a first series ( 11 ) of elongate blades ( 30 ) arranged around the circumference of said elongate element ( 2 ); these blades ( 30 ) are pivotably connected to said elongate element ( 2 ) at their proximal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge ( 30 a ) at their distal longitudinal end; said blades ( 30 ) capable of pivoting with respect to said elongate element ( 2 ) between a furled position in which they are near to the wall of the elongate element ( 2 ) so that they do not impede the introduction and sliding of the device ( 1 ) into and in the bodily vessel ( 50 ) in which a valve ( 55 , 56 ) is located, particularly within the aorta, and an unfurled position in which these blades ( 30 ) are deployed into a corolla in such a way that their cutting edges ( 30 a ) are placed in the continuation of one another and thus constitute a circular cutting edge; a second series ( 12 ) of blades ( 30 ) which is arranged after said first series ( 11 ) of blades in the distal direction; the blades ( 30 ) of this second series ( 12 ) of blades have a structure identical to that of the blades ( 30 ) of said first series ( 11 ) of blades except that these blades ( 30 ) of this second series ( 12 ) are connected to said elongate element by their distal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge ( 30 b ) at their proximal longitudinal end; means ( 31 ) for bringing the blades ( 30 ) of said first and second series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades from a furled position to an unfurled position; means ( 6 , 7 ) for moving said series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades axially toward one another, between a position in which these series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades are away from each other and in which one series ( 11 ) of blades can be placed axially on one side of the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) while the other series ( 12 ) of blades is placed axially on the other side of this valve ( 55 , 56 ), and a close-together position in which the circular cutting edges of these two series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades are brought into mutual contact and thus cut through the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) so as to detach it from said bodily vessel ( 50 ); and means of identifying, by a percutaneous route, the axial position of the device ( 1 ) with respect to the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) so as to position each of the two aforementioned series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades on one side of this valve.

Claim 2

A device ( 1 ) for replacing, via a percutaneous route, a heart valve ( 55 , 56 ) located in a bodily vessel ( 50 ), characterized in that it comprises: an elongate support element ( 2 ); a first series ( 11 ) of elongate blades ( 30 ) arranged around the circumference of said elongate element ( 2 ); these blades ( 30 ) are pivotably connected to said elongate element ( 2 ) at their proximal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge ( 30 a ) at their distal longitudinal end; said blades ( 30 ) capable of pivoting with respect to said elongate element ( 2 ) between a furled position in which they are near to the wall of the elongate element ( 2 ) so that they do not impede the introduction and sliding of the device ( 1 ) into and in the bodily vessel ( 50 ) in which a valve ( 55 , 56 ) is located, particularly within the aorta, and an unfurled position in which these blades ( 30 ) are deployed into a corolla in such a way that their cutting edges ( 30 a ) are placed in the continuation of one another and thus constitute a circular cutting edge; a second series ( 12 ) of blades ( 30 ) which is arranged after said first series ( 11 ) of blades in the distal direction; the blades ( 30 ) of this second series ( 12 ) of blades have a structure identical to that of the blades ( 30 ) of said first series ( 11 ) of blades except that these blades ( 30 ) of this second series ( 12 ) are connected to said elongate element by their distal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge ( 30 b ) at their proximal longitudinal end; means ( 31 ) for bringing the blades ( 30 ) of said first and second series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades from a furled position to an unfurled position; means ( 6 , 7 ) for moving said series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades axially toward one another, between a position in which these series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades are away from each other and in which one series ( 11 ) of blades can be placed axially on one side of the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) while the other series ( 12 ) of blades is placed axially on the other side of this valve ( 55 , 56 ), and a close-together position in which the circular cutting edges of these two series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades are brought into mutual contact and thus cut through the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) so as to detach it from said bodily vessel ( 50 ); and means of identifying, by a percutaneous route, the axial position of the device ( 1 ) with respect to the native valve ( 55 , 56 ) so as to position each of the two aforementioned series ( 11 , 12 ) of blades on one side of this valve.