US Patent:
20060265056, Nov 23, 2006
Inventors:
Than Nguyen - Fountain Valley CA, US
Hung Nguyen - Garden Grove CA, US
MyKim Nguyen - Santa Ana CA, US
Stanley Komatsu - Laguna Hills CA, US
Robrecht Michiels - Laguna Hills CA, US
Assignee:
COREVALVE, INC. - Irvine CA
International Classification:
A61F 2/24
Abstract:
A heart valve prosthesis is provided having a self-expanding multi-level frame that supports a valve body comprising a skirt and plurality of coapting leaflets. The frame transitions between a contracted delivery configuration that enables percutaneous transluminal delivery, and an expanded deployed configuration having an asymmetric hourglass shape. The valve body skirt and leaflets are constructed so that the center of coaptation may be selected to reduce horizontal forces applied to the commissures of the valve, and to efficiently distribute and transmit forces along the leaflets and to the frame. Alternatively, the valve body may be used as a surgically implantable replacement valve prosthesis.