Translumenally implantable heart valve with formed in place support

Abstract

A cardiovascular prosthetic valve, the valve comprising an inflatable cuff comprising at least one inflatable channel that forms, at least in part, an inflatable structure, and a valve coupled to the inflatable cuff, the valve configured to permit flow in a first axial direction and to inhibit flow in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction, the valve comprising a plurality of tissue supports that extend generally in the axial direction and that are flexible and/or movable throughout a range in a radial direction.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A method of implanting a prosthetic heart valve, the method comprising the steps of:
 translumenally advancing a catheter carrying a prosthetic valve that comprises an inflatable support structure to a position proximate a native valve of a patient, wherein the inflatable support structure comprises a directional valve positioned within the inflatable support structure;   inflating at least a first chamber of the inflatable support structure with a contrast media;   visualizing the prosthetic valve under fluoroscopy;   displacing the contrast media in the first chamber of the inflatable support structure with a new inflation media through the directional valve; and   removing the catheter from the patient, leaving the prosthetic valve and the inflated first chamber of the inflatable support structure within the patient.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising allowing the new inflation media to solidify within the first chamber of the inflatable support structure. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising proximally retracting the valve after the first chamber is at least partially inflated. 
     
     
         29 . The method of implanting a prosthetic valve as in  claim 26 , additionally comprising the step of removing the native valve prior to the removing the catheter step. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the inflatable support structure comprises an inflation channel having a first end and a second end, and the directional valve resides between the first end and the second end of the inflation channel. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein inflating at least a first chamber comprises filling the contrast media from the first end of the inflation channel, and displacing the contrast media comprises filling the new inflation media from the second end of the inflation channel. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the contrast media is pushed out from the first end of the inflation channel by the new inflation media. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the new inflation media and the contrast media move in a single direction during the step of displacing the contrast media. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the first chamber is at least partially inflated with the contrast media.