Replacement heart valve implant with inflow stitching

Abstract

A replacement heart valve implant may include a tubular anchor member actuatable between a delivery and a deployed configuration, the tubular anchor member including an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of anchor member intersection points, and defining a longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end to the outflow end, a plurality of valve leaflets, and a seal member secured to the tubular anchor member at the inflow end. An end surface of each of the plurality of valve leaflets may abut an inner-facing surface of the seal member. The plurality of valve leaflets each define a secured end and a free end. The secured end may be attached to the seal member adjacent the inflow end. The secured end may define the end surface, and the end surface may face toward the outflow end when the plurality of valve leaflets is in an everted position.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A replacement heart valve implant, comprising:
 a tubular anchor member actuatable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the tubular anchor member including an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of anchor member intersection points, and defining a longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end of the tubular anchor member to the outflow end of the tubular anchor member;   a plurality of valve leaflets; and   a seal member secured to the tubular anchor member at the inflow end of the tubular anchor member;   wherein each valve leaflet and the seal member extend upstream of the inflow end of the tubular anchor member.   
     
     
         2 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 1 , wherein an end surface of each of the plurality of valve leaflets abuts an inner-facing surface of the seal member at a position upstream of the inflow end of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         3 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 2 , wherein the end surface of each valve leaflet is secured directly to the seal member by a suture. 
     
     
         4 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of lashings securing the seal member to the tubular anchor member at some of the anchor member intersection points.   
     
     
         5 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of stitches securing the plurality of valve leaflets to the seal member.   
     
     
         6 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 1 , wherein the seal member includes a fabric strip fixedly attached to a polymeric seal element adjacent the inflow end of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         7 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 6 , wherein the fabric strip is at least partially embedded in the polymeric seal element. 
     
     
         8 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 6 , wherein the polymeric seal element is disposed radially outward of an outside surface of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         9 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 6 , wherein a free end of the fabric strip folds back on itself adjacent the inflow end of the tubular anchor member to form a radially inner layer and a radially outer layer, the radially inner layer including the free end. 
     
     
         10 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 9 , wherein a plurality of lashings secure the seal member to the tubular anchor member at some of the anchor member intersection points, each of the plurality of lashings including a securing element disposed between the radially inner layer and the radially outer layer. 
     
     
         11 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 10 , wherein the securing element is a knot. 
     
     
         12 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 10 , wherein the securing element is an adhesive. 
     
     
         13 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 10 , wherein the securing element is a portion of the lashing melted to itself to form a co-mingled bead of material. 
     
     
         14 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of valve leaflets is directly attached to the seal member at multiple locations by a single suture element. 
     
     
         15 . A replacement heart valve implant, comprising:
 a tubular anchor member actuatable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the tubular anchor member including an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of anchor member intersection points, and defining a longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end of the tubular anchor member to the outflow end of the tubular anchor member;   a plurality of valve leaflets; and   a seal member secured to the tubular anchor member at the inflow end of the tubular anchor member;   wherein a free end of the seal member folds back on itself adjacent the inflow end of the tubular anchor member to form a radially inner layer and a radially outer layer, wherein an end surface of each valve leaflet is secured directly to the radially inner layer of the seal member by a suture.   
     
     
         16 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 15 , wherein each valve leaflet and the seal member extend upstream of the inflow end of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         17 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 15 , wherein the end surface of each of the plurality of valve leaflets abuts the radially inner layer of the seal member at a position upstream of the inflow end of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         18 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 15 , wherein the seal member includes a fabric strip fixedly attached to a polymeric seal element adjacent the inflow end of the tubular anchor member. 
     
     
         19 . The replacement heart valve implant of  claim 18 , wherein the fabric strip is at least partially embedded in the polymeric seal element. 
     
     
         20 . A replacement heart valve implant, comprising:
 a tubular anchor member actuatable between a delivery configuration and a deployed configuration, the tubular anchor member including an inflow end, an outflow end, and a plurality of anchor member intersection points, and defining a longitudinal axis extending from the inflow end of the tubular anchor member to the outflow end of the tubular anchor member;   a plurality of valve leaflets; and   a seal member secured to the tubular anchor member at the inflow end of the tubular anchor member;   wherein a free end surface of each valve leaflet is secured directly to the seal member by a suture at a location upstream of the inflow end of the tubular anchor member.