Device and method for reducing heart valve regurgitation

Abstract

A method for repairing a native heart valve includes introducing a prosthetic valve across the native heart valve, wherein the prosthetic valve includes a plurality of prosthetic flaps arranged to allow blood to flow through the prosthetic valve in one direction. The prosthetic valve is expandable from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state. An anchor expands into contact with an adjacent blood vessel for securing the prosthetic valve within the native heart valve. The anchor is expandable from a compressed delivery state to an expanded deployed state for engagement with a wall of the blood vessel. The anchor is preferably coupled to the prosthetic valve via an elongate connector.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A heart valve device for implantation in a patient having a heart and a native heart valve, the heart valve device comprising:
 a prosthetic valve comprising a plurality of prosthetic flaps arranged to allow blood to flow through the prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve being transitionable between a compressed delivery state and an expanded deployed state; and   an anchor having a proximal region and a distal region, the anchor coupled at the distal region to the prosthetic valve via an elongated connector shaped to extend from the distal region out of the heart into an adjacent blood vessel, the anchor being transitionable between a compressed delivery state and an expanded deployed state, the anchor adapted to expand into contact with the blood vessel for suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve within the native heart valve.   
     
     
         2 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is lockable. 
     
     
         3 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is an expandable stent adapted to expand into contact with the blood vessel. 
     
     
         4 . The heart valve device of  claim 3 , wherein the anchor stent is formed struts in a tubular shape when expanded. 
     
     
         5 . The heart valve device of  claim 3 , wherein the anchor stent is self-expandable. 
     
     
         6 . The heart valve device of  claim 5 , wherein the stent is formed of Nitinol. 
     
     
         7 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated connector is lockable for suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve in a particular orientation across the native heart valve. 
     
     
         8 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the elongated connector is severable to enable connecting a replacement valve to the anchor and a remaining portion of the connector. 
     
     
         9 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor and elongated connector are arranged to suspend and maintain the prosthetic valve across a tricuspid valve of the heart. 
     
     
         10 . The heart valve device of  claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic flaps comprise at least one of bovine or equine pericardium. 
     
     
         11 . A method of repairing a native heart valve of a heart, the method comprising:
 introducing a prosthetic valve across the native heart valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a plurality of prosthetic flaps arranged to allow blood to flow through the prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve being transitionable between a compressed delivery state and an expanded deployed state; and   suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve within the native heart valve using an anchor adapted to expand into contact with a blood vessel coupled to the heart, the anchor being transitionable between a compressed delivery state and an expanded deployed state, and the anchor having a distal region coupled to the prosthetic valve via an elongated connector.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein introducing the prosthetic valve comprises percutaneously introducing the prosthetic valve in a delivery catheter via a blood vessel coupled to the heart and moving the prosthetic valve until the prosthetic valve is positioned across the native heart valve. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising locking the anchor in place to suspend and maintain the prosthetic valve across the native heart valve. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve comprises suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve across a native tricuspid valve. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein suspending and maintaining the prosthetic valve comprises expanding the anchor within the superior vena cava. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein introducing the prosthetic valve comprises advancing a restraining catheter through the superior vena cava toward the native tricuspid heart valve, the restraining catheter containing the prosthetic valve in a compressed state and the anchor in a compressed state. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further including advancing the restraining catheter through a larger delivery catheter. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of advancing the restraining catheter through the superior vena cava includes accessing the superior vena cava via the neck of the patient. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of advancing the restraining catheter is done using x-ray or ultrasound imaging. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the anchor is formed by struts in a tubular shape when expanded, and is self-expandable.