Method For Replacing Native Valve Function Of A Diseased Aortic Valve

Abstract

Methods for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve in a patient includes: (a) receiving an artificial heart valve assembly mounted about a first mounting position on a catheter system, (b) guiding the artificial heart valve assembly through the vasculature of the patient, (c) while the catheter system having the artificial heart valve assembly mounted thereto is in the patient's vasculature, mounting the artificial heart valve assembly about a second mounting position on the catheter system, (d) delivering the artificial heart valve assembly to the region of the diseased aortic valve, (e) expanding the artificial heart valve assembly in the region of the diseased aortic valve, and (f) withdrawing the catheter system from the patient's vasculature.

1 . A method for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve in a patient, comprising:
 (a) receiving an artificial heart valve assembly mounted about a first mounting position on a catheter system;   (b) guiding the artificial heart valve assembly through the vasculature of the patient;   (c) while the catheter system having the artificial heart valve assembly mounted thereto is in the patient's vasculature, mounting the artificial heart valve assembly about a second mounting position on the catheter system;   (d) delivering the artificial heart valve assembly to the region of the diseased aortic valve;   (e) expanding the artificial heart valve assembly in the region of the diseased aortic valve; and   (f) withdrawing the catheter system from the patient's vasculature.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is self-expandable. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is balloon expandable. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is delivered to and expanded in the native aortic valve annulus. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the native aortic valve is excised before the artificial heart valve assembly is expanded in the native aortic valve annulus. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said expanding the artificial heart valve assembly in the region of the diseased aortic valve occurs while the patient's heart is beating. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is a stented artificial heart valve assembly. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly comprises a biological valve. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly mounted about the first mounting position is press fit or friction fit about the first mounting position. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said mounting the artificial heart valve assembly about the second mounting position includes press fitting or friction fitting the artificial heart valve assembly about the second mounting position. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said guiding the catheter system through the vasculature of the patient includes guiding the catheter system through a peripheral artery of the patient. 
   
   
       12 . A method for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve in a patient, comprising:
 (a) guiding a catheter system having a balloon through the vasculature of the patient;   (b) guiding an artificial heart valve assembly through the vasculature of the patient;   (c) while the catheter system is in the patient's vasculature, positioning the artificial heart valve assembly about the balloon of the catheter system;   (d) delivering the artificial heart valve assembly to the region of the diseased aortic valve;   (e) expanding the artificial heart valve assembly in the region of the diseased aortic valve; and   (f) withdrawing the catheter system from the patient's vasculature.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly was not previously coupled to the catheter system prior to said positioning. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is self-expandable. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is balloon expandable. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is delivered to and expanded in the native aortic valve annulus. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the native aortic valve is excised before the artificial heart valve assembly is expanded in the native aortic valve annulus. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said expanding the artificial heart valve assembly the region of the diseased aortic valve occurs while the patient's heart is beating. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is a stented artificial heart valve assembly. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly comprises a biological valve. 
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said guiding the catheter system through the vasculature of the patient includes guiding the catheter system through a peripheral artery of the patient. 
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said guiding the artificial heart valve assembly through the vasculature of the patient includes guiding the artificial heart valve assembly through a peripheral artery of the patient. 
   
   
       23 . A system for replacing native valve function of a diseased aortic valve in a patient, comprising:
 (a) an artificial heart valve assembly;   (b) a first mount capable of engaging said artificial heart valve assembly while said artificial heart valve assembly is advanced through the patient's vasculature;   (c) a second mount capable of engaging said artificial heart valve assembly while said artificial heart valve assembly is proximate to the region of the diseased aortic valve;   (d) a catheter system capable of being manipulated a first time to transfer said artificial heart valve assembly from said first mount to said second mount, and capable of being manipulated a second time to expand said artificial heart valve assembly into the region of the diseased aortic valve.   
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said first mount is not coupled to said catheter system. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said artificial heart valve assembly is self-expandable. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said artificial heart valve assembly is balloon expandable. 
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said second mount is a balloon. 
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the artificial heart valve assembly is expanded into the native aortic valve annulus. 
   
   
       29 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the native aortic valve has been excised. 
   
   
       30 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said catheter system is capable of being manipulated to transfer and expand said artificial heart valve assembly while the patient's heart is beating. 
   
   
       31 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said artificial heart valve assembly is a stented artificial heart valve assembly. 
   
   
       32 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said artificial heart valve assembly comprises a biological valve. 
   
   
       33 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said first mount is capable of engaging said artificial heart valve assembly via a press fitting or a friction fitting. 
   
   
       34 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said first mount is capable of engaging said artificial heart valve assembly while said artificial heart valve assembly is advanced through a peripheral artery of the patient.