Patent ID: 6830584
Filing Date: 2004-12-14
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
A device (1) for replacing, via a percutaneous route, a heart valve (55, 56) located in a bodily vessel (50), characterized in that it comprises:an elongate support element (2); a first series (11) of elongate blades (30) arranged around the circumference of said elongate element (2); these blades (30) are pivotably connected to said elongate element (2) at their proximal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge (30a) at their distal longitudinal end; said blades (30) capable of pivoting with respect to said elongate element (2) between a furled position in which they are near to the wall of the elongate element (2) so that they do not impede the introduction and sliding of the device (1) into and in the bodily vessel (50) in which a valve (55, 56) is located, particularly within the aorta, and an unfurled position in which these blades (30) are deployed into a corolla in such a way that their cutting edges (30a) are placed in the continuation of one another and thus constitute a circular cutting edge; a second series (12) of blades (30) which is arranged after said first series (11) of blades in the distal direction; the blades (30) of this second series (12) of blades have a structure identical to that of the blades (30) of said first series (11) of blades except that these blades (30) of this second series (12) are connected to said elongate element by their distal longitudinal end and each have a cutting edge (30b) at their proximal longitudinal end; means (31) for bringing the blades (30) of said first and second series (11, 12) of blades from a furled position to an unfurled position; means (6, 7) for moving said series (11, 12) of blades axially toward one another, between a position in which these series (11, 12) of blades are away from each other and in which one series (11) of blades can be placed axially on one side of the native valve (55, 56) while the other series (12) of blades is placed axially on the other side of this valve (55, 56), and a close-together position in which the circular cutting edges of these two series (11, 12) of blades are brought into mutual contact and thus cut through the native valve (55, 56) so as to detach it from said bodily vessel (50); and means of identifying, by a percutaneous route, the axial position of the device (1) with respect to the native valve (55, 56) so as to position each of the two aforementioned series (11, 12) of blades on one side of this valve.