Devices and systems for docking a heart valve

Abstract

Expandable docking stations for docking an expandable valve can include a valve seat, one or in ore sealing portions, and one or more retaining portions. A system for deploying an expandable docking station can include a catheter having a sleeve for retaining the docking station.

1 . A delivery catheter comprising: an outer tube having a distal opening, and an inner tube disposed in the outer tube such that a gap is formed between the inner tube and the outer tube, wherein the inner tube has an opening at a proximal end and one or more side openings, and wherein the delivery catheter is configured such that injecting flushing liquid into the proximal end of the inner tube flushes the flushing liquid through the inner tube with at least some of the flushing liquid exiting the inner tube through the one or more side openings to fill the gap and flush air out the distal opening of the outer tube. 
     
     
         2 . The delivery catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the inner tube has a distal opening and the delivery catheter is configured such that the filling of the inner tube with the flushing liquid at the proximal end flushes the air out of the distal opening of the inner tube. 
     
     
         3 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the inner tube is fillable with the flushing liquid at an opening for a guide wire at the proximal end of the inner tube. 
     
     
         4 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery catheter is configured such that the air in the inner tube can be flushed out through the distal opening of the inner tube and through an opening in a nosecone that is connected to the inner tube. 
     
     
         5 . The delivery catheter of  claim 2 , wherein the delivery catheter is configured such that the air in the inner tube can be flushed out through the distal opening of the inner tube and through an opening in a nosecone that is connected to the inner tube. 
     
     
         6 . A catheter and docking station system comprising:
 a sleeve;   a docking station retainer disposed in the sleeve, wherein the docking station retainer includes one or more retainer recesses; and   a docking station disposed in the sleeve, wherein the docking station includes one or more extensions releasably attached to the docking station retainer, wherein each extension of the one or more extensions includes a head disposed in at least one of the one or more retainer recesses;   wherein each extension of the one or more docking extensions contacts the docking station retainer at only two points.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the head is triangular. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more extensions consist of two extensions. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more retainer recesses comprise a rectangular recess in the docking station retainer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein sides of the head extend away from one another at an angle of between 60 degrees and 120 degrees. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the sleeve engages the one or more extensions to retain the one or more heads in the retainer recess when the sleeve is positioned over the one or more extensions. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more extensions spring radially outward relative to the docking station retainer when unconstrained by the sleeve to release the one or more extensions from the docking station retainer. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the one or more extensions are tiltable in the one or more recesses. 
     
     
         14 . A system for deploying a docking station comprising:
 a handle that includes:
 a housing; 
 a drive member rotatably coupled to the housing; and 
 a driven member coupled to the drive member and the housing, such that rotation of the drive member moves the driven member linearly in the housing; 
   a catheter that includes:
 an outer sleeve fixedly connected to the driven member; and 
 an inner sleeve disposed in the outer sleeve and fixedly connected to the housing; 
   wherein rotation of the drive member moves the outer sleeve relative to the inner sleeve.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the drive member comprises a wheel having a gear portion. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the drive member comprises an internally threaded member. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the driven member comprises a gear rack. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the driven member comprises an externally threaded member. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a ratchet mechanism that is moveable from an engaged position to a disengaged position, wherein when the ratchet is in the engaged position the drive member is able to be rotated in only one direction. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a luer port fixed to the inner sleeve, wherein the luer port and the inner sleeve are configured to accept a guide wire that extends through the inner shaft.