Sutureless cardiac valve prosthesis, and devices and methods for implanting them

Abstract

Abstract A prosthetic cardiac valve assembly (10) for sutureless implantation in a patient. The assembly (10) includes a generally disk-shaped valve annulus element (12), and one or more generally disk-shaped retainer elements (16). The elements (12, 16) are adapted for mutual engagement, and for engagement with a host tissue region (18) so as to fix a portion of the host tissue (18) between them in a sutureless bond. Ultrasonic or thermal energy is applied to one or more of the elements to bond them together. Either the valve annulus element (12) or the retainer element (16) includes a plurality of projections (20), and the corresponding element includes a corresponding plurality of apertures (14) for receiving the projections, thus providing for mutual physical engagement. The valve annulus element (12) can include a plurality of valve leaflets (14) which open and close in response to fluid pressure differentials across them. Various insertion devices for the assembly (10) are designed to facilitate insertion of the elements in the heart through a relatively small incision. The elements (12, 16) can be implanted, assembled and bonded together in situ around the host tissue (18).

Inventors

• 👤 Paul V. Fenton, Jr.

Bibliographic Details