Percutaneous heart valve with inflatable support

Abstract

An implantable prosthetic valve for a human heart is disclosed. The prosthetic valve has an inflatable tubular annular support structure and at least one moveable occluder that controls the flow of blood through the support structure. The support structure has a flow control valve configured for coupling to an inflation lumen for inflating the support structure with an inflation media. The flow control valve seals after decoupling from the inflation lumen and prevents the inflation media from escaping.

1 . A prosthetic valve dimensioned for implantation in a human heart, comprising an inflatable tubular annular support structure and at least one moveable occluder that controls the flow of blood through the support structure, wherein the support structure comprises a flow control valve configured for coupling to an inflation lumen for inflating the support structure with an inflation media, the flow control valve seals after decoupling from the inflation lumen and prevents the inflation media from escaping. 
     
     
         2 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the annular tubular support structure further comprises a first inflatable ring at a proximal end of the support structure, a second inflatable ring at a distal end of the support structure, an annular body extending from the distal end to the proximal end, and an inflatable intermediate support in between the first and second inflatable rings. 
     
     
         3 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the flow control valve is a ball valve. 
     
     
         4 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 3 , wherein the ball valve comprises a spring actuated check ball, and the ball valve can be unsealed by displacing the check ball. 
     
     
         5 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the occluder is a tissue valve. 
     
     
         6 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the occluder is a mechanical valve. 
     
     
         7 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the occluder is a single leaflet valve. 
     
     
         8 . The prosthetic valve of  claim 1 , wherein the occluder is a bileaflet valve.