Prosthetic heart valve systems

Abstract

A heart valve that can be expanded following its implantation in a patient, such as to accommodate the growth of a patient and the corresponding growth of the area where the valve is implanted, and to minimize paravalvular leakage. In one aspect, the invention may maximize the orifice size of the surgical valve. The invention includes expandable implantable conduits and expandable bioprosthetic stented valves. In one aspect of the invention, the valve may be adapted to accommodate growth of a patient to address limitation on bioprosthetic valve lifespans.

1 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
 a valved conduit comprising a generally tubular structure having at least one leaflet attached within its interior area;   a plurality of support structures connected to the tubular structure and spaced from each other along a length of the tubular structure, wherein each of the support structures is expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration when subjected to internal radial stress, wherein the internal area of each support structure is smaller in its first configuration than in its second configuration.   
   
   
       2 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support structures is attached to an outer surface of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       3 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support structures are attached within the interior area of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       4 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein each of the support structures are embedded within an outer wall of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       5 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the heart valve is surgically implantable in a patient with the support structures in their first configuration, and wherein the support structures are expandable to their second configuration in response to the application of radial stress by a separate radial expansion system. 
   
   
       6 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the first configuration of each of the support structures comprises a shaped portion, and wherein the shaped portion of the support structures is at least partially straightened when the support structure is in its second configuration. 
   
   
       7 . The heart valve of  claim 1 , wherein the tubular structure has a central area having a smaller diameter than a diameter of at least one of a first end and a second end of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       8 . The heart valve of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two leaflets are attached within the central area of the tubular structure. 
   
   
       9 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
 a sewing ring from which a plurality of stent posts extend, wherein the sewing ring is a generally tubular structure that is expandable from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein an internal area of the sewing ring is smaller in its first configuration than in its second configuration;   at least one leaflet attached within an interior area of the sewing ring; and   a reconfigurable support structure, wherein at least a portion of the support structure is attached to at least one of the stent posts.   
   
   
       10 . The heart valve of  claim 9 , wherein the support structure is reconfigurable from a first configuration to a second configuration when the sewing ring is subjected to internal radial stress, wherein the internal area of the support structure is smaller in its first configuration than in its second configuration. 
   
   
       11 . The heart valve of  claim 9 , wherein the sewing ring comprises a frame having a gap that is smaller when the sewing ring is in its first configuration than when the sewing ring is in its second configuration, and wherein the frame and the gap are covered by a flexible covering material. 
   
   
       12 . The heart valve of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible covering material surrounds the sewing ring, stent posts, and gap. 
   
   
       13 . The heart valve of  claim 11 , wherein the support structure is a self-expanding structure. 
   
   
       14 . The heart valve of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one restraining member positioned to compress a portion of the support structure to maintain the support structure is in its first configuration. 
   
   
       15 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising a valved conduit comprising a generally tubular structure having at least one leaflet attached within its interior area, wherein the tubular structure comprises:
 a plurality of longitudinal support members spaced from each other around the perimeter of the tubular structure;   at least one deformable member attached at a first end to a first longitudinal support member and at a second end to an adjacent second longitudinal support member, wherein the at least one deformable member is reconfigurable when the tubular structure is subjected to an internal radial stress.   
   
   
       16 . The heart valve of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one deformable member is permanently deformable. 
   
   
       17 . The heart valve of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one deformable member is breakable. 
   
   
       18 . The heart valve of  claim 15 , further comprising at least one connector member attached at a first end to the first longitudinal member and at a second end to the second longitudinal member, wherein the at least one connector member has a higher strength than a strength of the at least one deformable member such that when the tubular structure is subjected to an internal radial stress, the at least one deformable member will deform by a sufficient amount that the distance between the first and second longitudinal support members will increase and such that the connector member will remain attached to the first and second longitudinal support members. 
   
   
       19 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising a valved conduit comprising a generally tubular structure having a length extending along a longitudinal axis, wherein the tubular structure comprises:
 a first seam extending along at least a portion of the length of the tubular structure; and   a second seam spaced from the first seam and extending along at least a portion of the length of the tubular structure;   wherein the first and second seams are positioned relative to each other to form a loop of material that reduces an internal diameter of the tubular structure from an expanded configuration to a compressed configuration.   
   
   
       20 . The prosthetic heart valve of  claim 19 , wherein the first and second seams are releasable to allow expansion of the tubular structure from its compressed configuration to its expanded configuration.