Implantable Prosthetic Valve

Abstract

A valve prosthesis device is disclosed suitable for implantation in body ducts. The device comprises a support stent, comprised of a deployable construction adapted to be initially crimped in a narrow configuration suitable for catheterization through the body duct to a target location and adapted to be deployed by exerting substantially radial forces from within by means of a deployment device to a deployed state in the target location, and a valve assembly comprising a flexible conduit having an inlet end and an outlet, made of pliant material attached to the support beams providing collapsible slack portions of the conduit at the outlet. The support stent is provided with a plurality of longitudinally rigid support beams of fixed length. When flow is allowed to pass through the valve prosthesis device from the inlet to the outlet, the valve assembly is kept in an open position, whereas a reverse flow is prevented as the collapsible slack portions of the valve assembly collapse inwardly providing blockage to the reverse flow.

1 - 19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A prosthetic valve assembly for use in replacing a deficient native valve, the valve assembly comprising:
 a valve having a base, a plurality of leaflets and commissure points;   a valve support comprising a plurality of expandable cells and a plurality of longitudinal bars, the valve support configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the assembly is positioned in situ, said valve support supporting the base, wherein the commissure points of the valve are secured at the longitudinal bars and adjacent one or more of the expandable cells, and wherein the longitudinal bars of the valve support further comprise a plurality of holes, wherein the plurality of leaflets are secured to the longitudinal bars via suture lines passing through the plurality of holes.   
     
     
         21 . The valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the valve support is self-expanding. 
     
     
         22 . The valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the valve support is balloon expandable. 
     
     
         23 . The valve assembly of  claim 20 , wherein the valve support is configured to press radially against the native valve leaflets to hold the native valve leaflets against walls of the native valve annulus and/or against walls of an adjacent lumen to thereby prevent the native valve leaflets from obstructing the native valve annulus. 
     
     
         24 . A prosthetic valve, comprising:
 a valve assembly having a base, a plurality of leaflets and commissures;   a support stent comprising a plurality of expandable cells and a plurality of longitudinal struts, the support stent configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the prosthetic valve is positioned in situ, said support stent supporting the base, wherein the commissures of the valve assembly are secured at the longitudinal struts and adjacent one or more of the expandable cells, and wherein the longitudinal struts of the support stent further comprise a plurality of bores, wherein the plurality of leaflets are secured to the longitudinal struts via threads passing through the plurality of bores.   
     
     
         25 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 24 , wherein the support stent is self-expanding. 
     
     
         26 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 24 , wherein the support stent is balloon expandable. 
     
     
         27 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 24 , wherein the support stent is configured to press radially against the native valve leaflets to hold the native valve leaflets against walls of the native valve annulus and/or against walls of an adjacent lumen to thereby prevent the native valve leaflets from obstructing the native valve annulus. 
     
     
         28 . A prosthetic valve, comprising:
 a valve assembly having an inlet, a plurality of leaflets and commissural points;   a support stent comprising a web-like construction and a plurality of longitudinal support beams, the support stent configured to be collapsible for transluminal delivery and expandable to contact the anatomical annulus of the native valve when the prosthetic valve is positioned in situ, said support stent supporting the inlet, wherein the commissural points of the valve assembly are secured at the longitudinal support beams and adjacent the web-like construction, and wherein the longitudinal support beams of the support stent further comprise a plurality of bores, wherein the plurality of leaflets are secured to the longitudinal support beams via threads passing through the plurality of bores.   
     
     
         29 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 28 , wherein the support stent is self-expanding. 
     
     
         30 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 28 , wherein the support stent is balloon expandable. 
     
     
         31 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 28 , wherein the support stent is configured to press radially against the native valve leaflets to hold the native valve leaflets against walls of the native valve annulus and/or against walls of an adjacent lumen to thereby prevent the native valve leaflets from obstructing the native valve annulus.