Apparatus for Replacing a Native Heart Valve and Method of Making the Same

Abstract

An apparatus for replacement a native heart valve is herein provided. The apparatus includes a replacement heart valve, an expandable anchor, and a plurality of rivets. The expandable anchor comprises a woven braid structure that surrounds at least a portion of the replacement heart valve and has a plurality of braid intersections. At least some of the braid intersections have rivets extending therethrough.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for replacing a native heart valve comprising:
 an expandable anchor;   a replacement heart valve attached to the expandable anchor; and   a plurality of rivets;   the expandable anchor comprising a woven braid structure surrounding at least a portion of the replacement heart valve, the woven braid structure having a plurality of braid intersections, each braid intersection having a first wire segment and a second wire segment overlapping the first wire segment;   one of the rivets extending through the first wire segment and the second wire segment at the braid intersection, wherein the first wire segment is hingeable with respect to the second wire segment.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the rivets comprise a central portion and two end portions, the central portion having a smaller cross-section than the two end portions. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is formed from a single strand of wire. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of rows of braid intersections including a first row of braid intersections, the first row of braid intersections having a plurality of rivets. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the anchor comprises a plurality of columns of braid intersections, wherein the first row of braid intersections has rivets in at least two adjacent columns. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein the first two of braid intersections has rivets in at least four adjacent columns. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of buckles attached to the anchor, the anchor having braid intersections on both sides of the buckles, at least one of the braid intersections on at least one side of the buckles having a rivet. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein the braid intersections on both sides of the buckles have a rivet. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of posts and buckles, the posts insertable into the buckles. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second wire segments comprises a wear resistant oxide layer.