Patent ID: 7803187
Filing Date: 2010-09-28
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of reducing mitral valve regurgitation, comprising: providing a radially collapsible stent, the stent formed with a protrusion along a wall of the stent; collapsing the stent to a reduced diameter; coupling the stent to a distal end portion of an elongate catheter; advancing the elongate catheter through a patient's vasculature and delivering the stent into a left ventricular outflow tract; radially expanding the stent at a location below a native aortic valve such that the entire stent is positioned in the left ventricular outflow tract; and fixing the stent within the left ventricular outflow tract, the stent positioned adjacent to a native mitral valve; wherein, after being fixed within the left ventricular outflow tract, the stent has an expanded diameter which is larger than an inner diameter of the left ventricular outflow tract and wherein the protrusion along the wall of the stent applies a lateral force to an anterior leaflet of the mitral valve and moves the anterior leaflet toward a posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, thereby improving coaption of the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve.