Patent ID: 8974523
Filing Date: 2015-03-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method of implanting a prosthetic valve comprising: (a) percutaneously delivering a support structure, having a prosthetic valve attached to a proximal end thereof, in an elongated state inside a catheter to a target site, said support structure having at least two longitudinally spaced-apart circumferential preformed folds that have been unfolded to fit within said catheter but that are biased toward a folded configuration; (b) retracting said catheter relative to said support structure such that a first portion of said support structure expands against native tissue of the target site; (c) advancing a second portion of said support structure into said first portion such that a first of said preformed folds resumes said folded configuration between said first and second portions; (d) retracting said catheter relative to said second portion until said second portion expands against an interior of said first portion, thereby creating a multi-layered support structure; (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) if additional layers are desired; (f) releasing the support structure and said prosthetic valve, the last of said preformed folds causing said prosthetic valve to be positioned at least partially within said support structure, and removing said catheter from the target site.