Stented Prosthetic Heart Valves

Abstract

A surgical sutureless valve that is attached to a stent frame for delivery to a location in a patient using percutaneous implantation devices and methods.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A valve prosthesis comprising:
 a collapsible and expandable frame having a longitudinal axis, the frame comprising:   a plurality of attachment struts each defining a plurality of openings, the plurality of attachment struts running in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of attachment struts each having an upstream end and a downstream end;   a plurality of solid struts that run in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of solid struts being spaced apart around a periphery of the frame;   a first plurality of generally V-shaped strut structures extending from the plurality of attachment struts and from the plurality of solid struts in an upstream direction such that apices of the first plurality of generally V-shaped strut structures extend beyond the upstream ends of the plurality of attachment struts; and   a second plurality of generally V-shaped strut structures extending from the plurality of attachment struts and from the plurality of solid struts in a downstream direction such that apices of the second plurality of generally V-shaped strut structures extend beyond the downstream ends of the plurality of attachment struts; and   a valve coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         15 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein the valve comprises a plurality of tissue leaflets and a plurality of commissures. 
     
     
         16 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 15 , wherein the valve is coupled to the frame such that the plurality of commissures is aligned with the plurality of attachment struts. 
     
     
         17 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein the plurality of attachment struts comprises three attachment struts. 
     
     
         18 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein the frame is self-expandable. 
     
     
         19 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein the frame is balloon-expandable. 
     
     
         20 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 14 , wherein the valve is coupled to the frame by sutures passing through the plurality of openings defined by the plurality of attachment struts. 
     
     
         21 . A valve prosthesis comprising:
 a collapsible and expandable frame having a longitudinal axis, the frame comprising:   a plurality of attachment struts each defining a plurality of openings, the plurality of attachment struts running in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of attachment struts each having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion;   a plurality of solid struts that run in a direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis, the plurality of solid struts being spaced apart around a periphery of the frame, the plurality of solid struts each having an upstream end portion and a downstream end portion;   a upstream undulating strut structure fixed to the upstream end portions of the plurality of attachment struts and fixed to the upstream end portions of the plurality of solid struts;   a downstream undulating strut structure fixed to the downstream end portions of the plurality of attachment struts and fixed to the downstream end portions of the plurality of solid struts;   wherein the plurality of attachment struts, the plurality of solid struts, the first undulating strut structure, and the second undulating strut structure collectively define a hollow row of expandable cells; and   a valve coupled to the frame.   
     
     
         22 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the valve comprises a plurality of tissue leaflets and a plurality of commissures. 
     
     
         23 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 22 , wherein the valve is coupled to the frame such that the plurality of commissures is aligned with the plurality of attachment struts. 
     
     
         24 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of attachment struts comprises three attachment struts. 
     
     
         25 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the frame is self-expandable. 
     
     
         26 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the frame is balloon-expandable. 
     
     
         27 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein the valve is coupled to the flame by sutures passing through the plurality of openings defined by the plurality of attachment struts. 
     
     
         28 . The valve prosthesis of  claim 21 , wherein:
 the upstream undulating strut structure comprises a first plurality of apices;   the upstream undulating strut structure is fixed to the upstream end portions of the plurality of attachment struts and to the upstream end portions of the plurality of solid struts at the first plurality of apices;   the downstream undulating strut structure comprises a second plurality of apices; and   the downstream undulating strut structure is fixed to the downstream end portions of the plurality of attachment struts and to the downstream end portions of the plurality of solid struts at the second plurality of apices.