Patent ID: 11883282
Assignee: EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 6:
7. An assembly of a primary prosthetic heart valve with a secondary prosthetic heart valve expanded therein, comprising:
a surgical primary prosthetic heart valve adapted for post-implant expansion and having an inflow end and an outflow end, comprising a structural support stent defining an implant circumference that defines an orifice size of the primary prosthetic heart valve;
an adapter stent configured to be delivered in a contracted state to a position within an implanted primary prosthetic heart valve and expanded within the primary prosthetic heart valve so as to contact an inner orifice thereof, the adapter stent comprising a generally tubular configuration of interconnected struts joined at circumferential rows of connection points and defining an inflow end and an outflow end, the adapter stent having a plurality of barbs arrayed evenly around the outflow end each comprising a linear segment extending from a connection point toward the inflow end and having a small outwardly curved free end to interface with the primary prosthetic heart valve which comprises a plurality of leaflets and commissure posts and a plurality of inward barbs arrayed evenly around the inflow end each comprising a linear segment extending from a connection point toward the outflow end and having a small inwardly curved free end to interface with frame struts of a secondary prosthetic heart valve expanded therein; and
the secondary prosthetic heart valve configured to be delivered in a contracted state to a position within the expanded adapter stent in contact with the primary prosthetic heart valve, the secondary prosthetic heart valve also being configured to expand outward into contact with the adapter stent.