Circulatory Valve, System and Method

Abstract

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for use in a vascular system. The apparatus include a circulatory valve having a valve frame in which frame members define frame cells. Frame cells include joints in opposing relationship, where the joints transition from a first stable equilibrium state through an unstable equilibrium state to a second stable equilibrium state as the joints are drawn towards each other.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for staged deployment of a circulatory valve, comprising:
 radially expanding a valve frame of the circulatory valve from an undeployed state to a first stable equilibrium state; and   transitioning joints of the valve frame from the first stable equilibrium state through an unstable equilibrium state to a second stable equilibrium state to deploy the circulatory valve.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , where radially expanding the valve frame from the undeployed state includes releasing the circulatory valve from the undeployed state. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , where transitioning the joints from the first stable equilibrium state through the unstable equilibrium state to the second stable equilibrium state includes drawing the joints in each of a frame cell toward each other. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , where stopping the movement of the joints in each frame cell before passing the unstable equilibrium state causes the joints to return toward the first stable equilibrium state. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , where transitioning joints of the valve frame include pulling the joints through the unstable equilibrium state to the second stable equilibrium state. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , including locking the valve frame in the second stable equilibrium state with a lock mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , including flexing a compliant segment of the valve frame as the joints of the valve frame transition from the first stable equilibrium state through the unstable equilibrium state to the second stable equilibrium state to help hold the circulatory valve in the deployed state. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , where transitioning the joints includes elastically deforming the joints from the first stable equilibrium state through the unstable equilibrium state to the second stable equilibrium state to deploy the circulatory valve. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , where radially expanding the valve frame includes expanding the valve frame to eighty (80) to ninety-five (95) percent of the second stable equilibrium state for the first stable equilibrium state. 
     
     
         10 . A system, comprising:
 an elongate delivery catheter;   a retractable sheath positioned around at least a portion of the elongate delivery catheter, where the retractable sheath moves longitudinally relative the elongate delivery catheter;   a circulatory valve positioned between the elongate delivery catheter and the retractable sheath, where the circulatory valve includes a valve frame having frame members defining frame cells with joints in opposing relationship, and a valve leaflet coupled to the valve frame; and   deployment threads that extend longitudinally between the elongate delivery catheter and the retractable sheath to the joints of the frame cells, where force applied through the deployment threads transitions the joints from a first stable equilibrium state through an unstable equilibrium state to a second stable equilibrium state.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , where the retractable sheath moves longitudinally relative the elongate delivery catheter to allow the circulatory valve to move from an undeployed state to the first stable equilibrium state. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , where the first stable equilibrium state is eighty (80) to ninety-five (95) percent of the second stable equilibrium state. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , including a push tube that extends longitudinally between the elongate delivery catheter and the retractable sheath to abut at least one of the joints, and where the deployment threads extend through the push tube to the joints of the frame cell to allow force to be applied to the joints between the deployment threads and the push tube.