Methods and Apparatus for Endovascularly Replacing a Patient's Heart Valve

Abstract

Methods for endovascularly replacing a patient's heart valve. In some embodiments, the method includes the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve, the anchor having a braid, and expanding the braid to a deployed configuration against the patient's tissue. The braid may be fabricated from a single strand of wire and/or may comprise at least one turn feature.

1 . A replacement heart valve assembly having an undeployed configuration and a deployed configuration, the assembly comprising:
 an anchor comprising a plurality of sections, including a distal section and a middle section, the middle section longitudinally offset from the distal section, wherein, when the assembly is in the undeployed configuration, the distal section and middle section are cylindrical and, when the assembly is in the deployed configuration, the distal section is at least partially everted; and   a replacement valve, the replacement valve disposed within at least a portion of the middle section when the assembly is in the deployed configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a proximal section, the proximal section longitudinally offset from the middle section, wherein, when the assembly is in the deployed configuration, at least a portion of the proximal section is everted. 
     
     
         3 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the middle section and distal section are formed from at least one braided wire. 
     
     
         4 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the middle section has a higher braid density than the distal section. 
     
     
         5 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the distal section has a higher braid density than the middle section. 
     
     
         6 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one braided wire of the distal section is thinner than the at least one braided wire of the middle section. 
     
     
         7 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of posts coupled to the middle section. 
     
     
         8 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the replacement valve has three valve leaflets. 
     
     
         9 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 8  further comprising a plurality of posts coupled to the middle section, the leaflets attached to the posts. 
     
     
         10 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 9 , wherein, when the assembly is in the deployed configuration, the anchor is shorter than when the assembly is in the undeployed configuration. 
     
     
         11 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is formed from a shape-memory material. 
     
     
         12 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, when the assembly is in the deployed configuration, at least a portion of the distal section is rolled. 
     
     
         13 . The replacement heart valve assembly of  claim 1 , wherein wire material forming the distal section is different than the wire material forming the middle section.