Implanting a stent valve prosthesis at the native aortic valve

1. A method of replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart with a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent having a substantially circular cross-sectional profile and a flexible valvular structure sewn to the stent, the valvular structure having open and closed positions configured to allow one way flow through the stent, the valvular structure comprising pericardial tissue, the stent comprising intercrossing bars which form zig-zag lines along upper and lower extremities of the stent, the stent constructed to be radially compressible from an expanded size configured for placement within the stenotic native aortic valve to a compressed size having a diameter configured for advancement through a femoral artery leading to the stenotic native aortic valve, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the upper and lower extremities of the stent when the valvular structure is in the closed position, the method comprising:

advancing a guide wire through a femoral artery and through an aorta toward a stenotic native aortic valve in a human, heart, the native aortic valve having three valvular leaflets;

advancing a distal end portion of a first catheter over the guide wire and through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that an expandable balloon disposed along the distal end portion is positioned within the stenotic native aortic valve;

dilating the stenotic native aortic valve by expanding the expandable balloon to push aside the valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve;

deflating the expandable balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the first catheter from the human heart;

advancing a distal end portion of a second catheter over the guide wire, together with the prosthetic valve disposed along the distal end portion, through the femoral artery and aorta into the human heart such that the prosthetic valve is positioned within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve, the stent being in the compressed size from the expanded size during the advancement; and

radially re-expanding the stent, together with the valvular structure, within the dilated stenotic native aortic valve such that the stent intercrossing bars engage each of the three valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve for maintaining the stenotic native aortic valve in the dilated condition and wherein the valvular structure of the prosthetic valve replaces the valvular function of the stenotic native aortic valve and wherein an internal cover contacts an interior surface of the stent between the lower extremity of the stent and the valvular structure, the internal cover being sewn to the stent and adapted for preventing the passage of blood through spaces between the intercrossing bars of the stent, and wherein the entire aortic valve replacement method is performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the internal cover comprises pericardial tissue.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein at least a portion of the metallic stent has a concave profile and wherein the metallic stent is viewed under fluoroscopy during advancement of the prosthetic valve toward the native aortic valve.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic valve is positioned such that valvular leaflets provide a stable base for fixing the metallic stent within the native aortic valve.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the valvular leaflets recoil inward after dilatation to further contribute to the fixation of the metallic stent.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressed size of the metallic stent is about 5 mm.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the metallic stent has a substantially cylindrical shape with a height of at least 10 millimeters in a radially expanded condition.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the upper extremity of the stent is located between the coronary ostia and the left ventricle cavity after the prosthetic valve is expanded such that the coronary ostia remain free of obstruction from the prosthetic valve.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the lower extremity of the stent is located above the plane of the mitral valve in the human heart after the prosthetic valve is expanded such that the mitral valve remains free of obstruction from the prosthetic valve.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the stenotic native aortic valve is dilated to a diameter of at least about 20 millimeters before advancing the prosthetic valve.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising expanding the stent during manufacture to an expanded condition, coupling the valvular structure to the stent while the stent is in the expanded condition and further comprising compressing the stent and valvular structure to a size that fits within the femoral artery leading to the stenotic native aortic valve before advancement toward the dilated stenotic native aortic valve.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein a balloon is inflated to radially expand the stent of the prosthetic valve to ensure secure engagement with the valvular leaflets of the stenotic native aortic valve.

13. A method of replacing a stenotic native aortic valve in a human heart with a prosthetic valve, the prosthetic valve comprising a radially compressible and expandable metallic stent having an inlet end and an outlet end and a flexible valvular structure fixed to the stent and an internal cover fastened to an internal surface of the stent between the inlet end and the valvular structure, the stent having a substantially circular cross sectional profile and formed with a plurality of intercrossing bars forming zig-zag lines along the inlet and outlet ends of the stent, the valvular structure comprising pericardial tissue and having open and closed positions configured to allow one way flow through the stent, the internal cover comprising pericardial tissue, the stent being radially compressible from a size that is capable of replacing the stenotic native aortic valve to a smaller size having a diameter of about 5 millimeters and suitable for entry into the heart through a thoracotomy, the valvular structure positioned entirely between the inlet end and the outlet end when the valvular structure is in the closed position, the method comprising:

performing a thoracotomy to surgically access a stenotic native aortic heart valve in a human heart, the native aortic valve having three valvular leaflets;

advancing a distal end portion of a first cannula into the human heart through the thoracotomy such that an expandable balloon disposed along the distal end portion is positioned within the native aortic valve;

dilating the native aortic valve by expanding the expandable balloon to push aside the valvular leaflets of the native aortic valve;

deflating the expandable balloon and withdrawing the distal end portion of the first cannula from the human heart;

advancing a distal end portion of a second cannula, together with the prosthetic valve disposed along the distal end portion, into the human heart through the thoracotomy such that the prosthetic valve is positioned within the dilated native aortic valve, the stent being in its radially compressed size from its radially expanded size during the advancement;

radially re-expanding the stent, together with the valvular structure and the internal cover, within the dilated native aortic valve, wherein the stent of the expanded prosthetic valve engages each of the three valvular leaflets of the native aortic valve and thereby maintains the aortic valve in the dilated condition and wherein the valvular structure replaces the valvular function of the native aortic valve and wherein the internal cover prevents the passage of blood through spaces between the intercrossing bars of the stent, thereby preventing blood from leaking back into the left ventricle during diastole; and

withdrawing the second cannula from the human heart and closing the thoracotomy;

wherein the entire method is performed without using cardiopulmonary bypass.