Patent ID: 8216303
Filing Date: 2012-07-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve, the diseased heart valve including an annulus, an anterior valve leaflet, and a posterior valve leaflet, each of the anterior and posterior valve leaflets having a free edge, said apparatus comprising: an annular support member having an anterior end portion, a posterior end portion, and oppositely disposed first and second intermediate portions extending between said anterior and posterior end portions, said anterior end portion and said posterior end portion of said annular support member being dimensioned for attachment to anterior and posterior portions of the annulus of the heart valve, respectively, said posterior end portion and said first and second intermediate portions forming a continuous arc so that said posterior end portion has a convex shape relative to said anterior end portion; and at least one arc-shaped posterior leaflet support member securely connected to said annular support member and being dimensioned to extend across a portion of the free edge of the posterior valve leaflet; said posterior leaflet support member comprising a center portion integrally formed with and extending between first and second end portions, said first end portion, said second end portion, and said center portion forming a continuous arc so that said posterior leaflet support member has a concave shape relative to said anterior end portion, at least one of said first and second end portions being securely attached to said posterior end portion; wherein said annular support member has a saddle-shaped configuration and at least a portion of said posterior leaflet support member extends beyond said annular support member so that said at least a portion of said posterior leaflet support member is positioned below the annulus of the diseased heart valve when said apparatus is implanted thereon.