Patent ID: 9737401
Date: 2017-08-22
CPC Classifications: A61F

Claim:
1. A method of implanting a device at a native valve annulus, comprising: providing a device comprising a central portion defining a periphery centered around a flow orifice with a fluid flow axis therethrough, a first curved anchor extending from a first fixed end secured to the central portion and being spaced away from and passing generally parallel to the periphery to a first free end so as to form a first leaflet-receiving slot, a second curved anchor extending from a second fixed end secured to the central portion and being spaced away from and passing generally parallel to the periphery to a second free end so as to form a second leaflet-receiving slot, the first and second curved anchors not overlapping one another, wherein the first and second curved anchors lie in the same plane as and radially outward from the central portion; positioning the device with the first curved anchor and second curved anchor adjacent the native valve annulus, with the fluid flow axis of the device generally parallel to a fluid flow path through the native valve annulus, and with the first free end positioned adjacent a first commissure of a resident heart valve at the native valve annulus; placing the first free end underneath a first resident valve leaflet; rotating the device about the fluid flow axis thereof to advance the first free end underneath the first resident valve leaflet and thereby slidingly advancing the first resident valve leaflet into the first leaflet-receiving slot; monitoring the position of the second free end with respect to a second commissure of the resident heart valve; stopping rotation of the device about the fluid flow axis once the second free end is adjacent the second commissure of the resident heart valve; placing the second free end underneath a second resident valve leaflet; recommencing rotating the device about the fluid flow axis thereof to advance the second free end underneath the second resident valve leaflet and thereby slidingly advancing the second resident valve leaflet into the second leaflet-receiving slot while also further advancing the first free end underneath the first resident valve leaflet and further slidingly advancing the first resident valve leaflet into the first leaflet-receiving slot; and stopping rotation of the device when the first resident valve leaflet is slidingly advanced into the first leaflet-receiving slot at a position adjacent the first fixed end, whereby deployment of the device is completed.