Devices and systems for docking a heart valve

Abstract

Expandable docking stations for docking an expandable valve can include a valve seat, one or more sealing portions, and/or one or more retaining portions. The valve seat can be unexpandable or substantially unexpandable beyond a deployed size. The one or more sealing portions can be connected to the valve seat and extend radially outward of the valve seat. The one or more sealing portions can be constructed to expand outward of the valve seat and provide a seal over a range of sizes. The one or more retaining portions can be connected to the one or more sealing portions. The one or more retaining portions are configured to retain the docking station at a deployed position.

1 . An implantable medical assembly, comprising:
 an expandable, first frame having an hour-glass shape, the first frame including a first row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at an outflow end of the first frame, a second row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at an inflow end of the first frame, and a third row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at a narrowed portion of the first frame between the outflow end and the inflow end, wherein each cell of the first row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the first frame than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein each cell of the second row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with the central longitudinal axis than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis;   an expandable, second frame adapted to engage with and be arranged within the first frame; and   a plurality of leaflets mounted in the second frame to regulate a flow of blood through the medical assembly.   
     
     
         2 . The medical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first row of cells has a first diameter, the second row of cells has a second diameter, and the third row of cells has a third diameter, wherein the third diameter is less than the first and second diameters. 
     
     
         3 . The medical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first row of cells, the second row of cells, and the third row of cells are formed by struts of the first frame. 
     
     
         4 . The medical assembly of  claim 3 , wherein end portions of the struts forming the first row of cells and the second row of cells at the outflow end and the inflow end are curved relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         5 . The medical assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the end portions of the struts at the outflow end are curved in a same direction relative to the central longitudinal axis as the end portions of the struts at the inflow end. 
     
     
         6 . The medical assembly of  claim 3 , wherein each cell of the first row of cells, the second row of cells, and third row of cells is diamond shaped with curved edges and formed by a lattice arrangement of the struts. 
     
     
         7 . The medical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of each cell of the second row of cells that is oriented closer to parallel than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis is a first cell portion and each cell of the second row of cells further comprises a second cell portion, which is located closer to the third row of cells than the first cell portion. 
     
     
         8 . The medical assembly of  claim 7 , wherein, for each cell of the second row of cells, the first cell portion is closer to parallel to the central longitudinal axis than is the second cell portion. 
     
     
         9 . The medical assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second cell portions are bent relative to each other at locations where the cells of the second row of cells are connected to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The medical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the third row of cells forms a valve seat adapted to engage with the second frame. 
     
     
         11 . The medical assembly of  claim 1 , wherein, when the second frame is arranged within the first frame, a gap is formed at the outflow end, between the first frame and the second frame, in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . A method comprising:
 expanding a first frame of an implantable medical assembly into an anatomy of a heart, the first frame having an hour-glass shape, the first frame including a first row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at an outflow end of the first frame, a second row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at an inflow end of the first frame, and a third row of cells arranged around a circumference of the first frame at a narrowed portion of the first frame between the outflow end and inflow end, wherein each cell of the first row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the first frame than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein each cell of the second row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with the central longitudinal axis than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis; and   expanding a second frame of the implantable medical assembly within the first frame, wherein a plurality of leaflets attached to the second frame regulates a flow of blood through the implantable medical assembly.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein expanding the second frame within the first frame includes engaging the second frame with the first frame within the narrowed portion of the first frame. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the portion of each cell of the second row of cells that is oriented closer to parallel than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis is a first cell portion and each cell of the second row of cells further comprises a second cell portion, which is located closer to the third row of cells than the first cell portion, and wherein for each cell of the second row of cells, the first cell portion is arranged closer to parallel to the central longitudinal axis than is the second cell portion. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein, after expanding the second frame within the first frame, a gap is formed at the distal outflow end, between the first frame and the second frame, in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the first row of cells, the second row of cells, and the third row of cells are formed by struts of the first frame and wherein end portions of the struts forming the first row of cells at the outflow end and end portions of the struts forming the second row of cells at the inflow end are curved in a same direction relative to the central longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         17 . A medical assembly for implantation in a heart, comprising:
 an expandable, first frame having an hour-glass shape with an intermediate portion arranged between an outflow end portion and an inflow end portion of the first frame, wherein the intermediate end portion has a diameter that is less than respective diameters of the outflow end portion and the inflow end portion;   wherein the first frame comprises a plurality of struts that form cells, the cells arranged in a first row of cells forming the outflow end portion, a second row of cells forming the inflow end portion, and a third row of cells forming the intermediate portion, wherein each cell of the first row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with a central longitudinal axis of the first frame than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis, and wherein each cell of the second row of cells has a portion that is oriented closer to parallel with the central longitudinal axis than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis;   an expandable, second frame disposed in the first frame; and   a plurality of leaflets mounted in the second frame to regulate a flow of blood through the medical assembly.   
     
     
         18 . The medical assembly of  claim 17 , wherein a gap is formed between the first frame and the second frame at the outflow end portion in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis, the gap extending completely around the second frame. 
     
     
         19 . The medical assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the portion of each cell of the second row of cells that is oriented closer to parallel than perpendicular with the central longitudinal axis is a first cell portion and each cell of the second row of cells further comprises a second cell portion, which is located closer to the third row of cells than the first cell portion. 
     
     
         20 . The medical assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first cell portions are closer to parallel to the central longitudinal axis than are the second cell portions.