Method for treating an aortic valve

Abstract

A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve includes advancing the prosthetic heart valve in a radially-contracted configuration into an annulus of a native aortic valve. The prosthetic heart valve includes a self-expanding body and a plurality of leaflets fastened to the body. The body of the prosthetic heart valve is formed with an annulus anchoring section, a sinus section, and an outflow section. During implantation, the prosthetic heart valve is allowed to self-expand such that the annulus anchoring section contacts the annulus of the native aortic valve and the outflow section contacts a native ascending aorta. The outflow section is less rigid than the annulus anchoring section for conforming to the native ascending aorta. The outflow section flares outwardly from the sinus section. The sinus section preferably includes three sinus apertures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 advancing the prosthetic heart valve in a radially-contracted configuration into an annulus of a native aortic valve, wherein the prosthetic heart valve has a self-expanding body and a plurality of leaflets fastened to the body, and wherein the body includes an annulus anchoring section, a sinus section, and an outflow section, wherein the sinus section is disposed between the annulus anchoring section and the outflow section;   allowing the prosthetic heart valve to self-expand from the radially-contracted configuration to a radially-expanded configuration in which the sinus section has a first diameter that is less than a second diameter of the outflow section; and   positioning the prosthetic heart valve such that the annulus anchoring section contacts the annulus of the native aortic valve and the outflow section contacts a native ascending aorta.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sinus section of the body includes three sinus apertures for permitting blood flow therethrough. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the body includes three commissures and three cusps, and each of the sinus apertures is defined by a pair of commissures spaced apart by a cusp. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the outflow section of the body extends axially from the commissures. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the commissures comprises a plurality of attachment apertures, and wherein the leaflets are coupled to the commissures by sutures extending through the attachment apertures. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the leaflets are further coupled to the cusps with sutures. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the annulus anchoring section is more rigid than the outflow section. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the outflow section conforms to the native ascending aorta. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic heart valve comprises a plurality of anchoring projections that extend radially outwardly from the body and are angled toward the outflow section. 
     
     
         10 . A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 advancing the prosthetic heart valve in a radially-contracted configuration into an annulus of a native aortic valve, wherein the prosthetic heart valve has a self-expanding body and a plurality of leaflets fastened to the body, and wherein the body has an annulus anchoring section, an outflow section, and an intermediate section disposed between the annulus anchoring section and the outflow section;   allowing the prosthetic heart valve to self-expand from the radially-contracted configuration to a radially-expanded configuration in which the outflow section flares radially outwardly from the intermediate section; and   positioning the prosthetic heart valve such that the annulus anchoring section is disposed in the annulus of the native aortic valve and the outflow section contacts a native ascending aorta.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising aligning a plurality of sinus apertures of the body with native aortic sinuses, wherein the sinus apertures permit blood flow therethrough. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of commissures and a plurality of cusps, wherein adjacent commissures are spaced apart by respective cusps, and wherein the body includes a plurality of sinus apertures defined at least in part by the commissures and the cusps. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the outflow section of the body extends axially from the commissures. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the commissures comprise a plurality of attachment apertures, and the leaflets are coupled to the commissures by sutures that extend through the attachment apertures. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the leaflets are coupled to the cusps with the sutures. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the annulus anchoring section is more rigid than the outflow section, and wherein the outflow section conforms to the native ascending aorta. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the prosthetic heart valve comprises a plurality of anchoring projections that extend radially outwardly from the body, the anchoring projections arranged in a circumferentially extending row of projections located at first ends of the commissures. 
     
     
         18 . A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
 advancing the prosthetic heart valve in a radially-contracted configuration into an annulus of a native aortic valve, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is retained in the radially-contracted configuration by a delivery tube;   releasing the prosthetic heart valve from the delivery tube;   allowing the prosthetic heart valve to self-expand from the radially-contracted configuration to a radially-expanded configuration, wherein the prosthetic heart valve has a body and a plurality of leaflets fastened to the body, wherein the body has an annulus anchoring section, an outflow section, and an intermediate section disposed between the annulus anchoring section and the outflow section, wherein the annulus anchoring section is relatively more rigid than the outflow section, and wherein in the radially-expanded configuration the outflow section flares radially outwardly from the intermediate section; and   deploying the prosthetic heart valve such that at least a portion of the annulus anchoring section contacts the annulus of the native aortic valve and at least a portion of the outflow section conforms to and contacts a native ascending aorta;   wherein the body comprises three commissures and three cusps, each of the sinus apertures defined by a pair of commissures spaced apart by a cusp, wherein the outflow section of the body extends axially from the commissures, and wherein the commissures comprise a plurality of attachment apertures, and the leaflets are coupled to the commissures by sutures extending through the attachment apertures.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the prosthetic heart valve comprises a circumferentially-extending row of anchoring projections that extend radially outwardly from the body and axially toward the outflow section. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the outflow section is flexible for mirroring aortic wall movement.