Patent ID: 7087079
Filing Date: 2006-08-08
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A stentless bioprosthetic valve for replacing a native mitral valve resected from a valve annulus in a heart, the native mitral valve having anterior and posterior leaflets that extend from the valve annulus at a proximal end to free edges at a distal end, the native mitral valve being resected so that the free edges and associated native chordae tendineae remain intact, the free edges forming a ring from which the native chordae tendineae extend to native papillary muscles, said bioprosthetic valve comprising: at least one piece of biocompatible material comprising an unstented a bi-leaflet conduit having dimensions that correspond to the dimensions of the native leaflets of the native mitral valve, said conduit having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end and said distal end being spaced apart by a distance corresponding to the dimensions of the native mitral valve leaflets, said proximal end of said conduit defining a first annulus; a biocompatible, unstented ring connected to said first annulus for supporting said first annulus and for suturing to the valve annulus in the heart, said ring, when sutured to the valve annulus, impeding dilatation of the valve annulus and preserving motion of the valve annulus; said conduit further including first and second leaflets that mimic the three-dimensional anatomical shape of the anterior and posterior leaflets of the native mitral valve, said first and second leaflets extending between said proximal end and said distal end of said conduit; said distal end of said conduit defining a second annulus at which said first and second leaflets terminate and which does not include bioprosthetic chordae tendineae, said second annulus configured to be sutured to the ring formed by the free edges of the anterior and posterior leaflets at the distal end of the native mitral valve that remain intact following resection of the native mitral valve so that the native chordae tendineae, which are attached to the papillary muscles, continue to provide prolapse prevention and left ventricular muscle support functions in addition to maintaining the continuity between the valve annulus and the papillary muscles, whereby the entire circumference of said second annulus formed at said distal end by said first and second leaflets is spaced from the papillary muscles; and wherein said ring is formed from at least one piece of said bi-leaflet conduit that has been folded over itself and sutured at the proximal end of said conduit.