Patent ID: 8057540
Filing Date: 2011-11-15
Classification: A61B,A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method of implanting a prosthetic valve in a stenosed aortic valve without requiring extracorporeal circulation, comprising: advancing a balloon catheter through a femoral artery and aorta until a distal end portion of the balloon catheter is positioned within the stenosed aortic valve; inflating a balloon to push aside valvular leaflets of the stenosed aortic valve, the balloon mounted on the distal end portion of the balloon catheter; deflating the balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the balloon catheter from the stenosed aortic valve; introducing a prosthetic valve into a patient's vasculature through an 18 French arterial introducer, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable frame and a flexible valvular structure made with pericardium, the valvular structure positioned entirely between upper and lower extremities of the frame when the valvular structure is in a closed state, the prosthetic valve having an internal cover fixed on an inner wall of the frame between the lower extremity of the frame and the valvular structure; advancing the prosthetic valve through the femoral artery and aorta by a catheterization technique until the prosthetic valve is positioned within the stenosed aortic valve; and radially expanding the prosthetic valve within the stenosed aortic valve to thereby implant the prosthetic valve in the stenosed aortic valve.