Anchoring barb for attachment to a medical prosthesis

1. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut including a first stop and a second stop;

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom, wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut and is slidable along a length of the strut between a first position adjacent the first stop and a second position adjacent the second stop;

a structure that changes the orientation of the barb when the anchoring element slides from the first position to the second position; and

an actuation mechanism attached to the barb and a deflecting element located on the strut, wherein the actuating mechanism is operable to urge the anchoring element over the strut until it contacts the deflecting element.

2. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut including a first stop and a second stop;

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom, wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut and is slidable along a length of the strut between a first position adjacent the first stop and a second position adjacent the second stop; and

a structure that changes the orientation of the barb when the anchoring element slides from the first position to the second position;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable by rotation and wherein the strut is twisted to guide the anchoring element from the first to the second orientation.

3. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut including a first stop and a second stop;

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom, wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut and is slidable along a length of the strut between a first position adjacent the first stop and a second position adjacent the second stop; and

a structure that changes the orientation of the barb when the anchoring element slides from the first position to the second position;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable by rotation and wherein the strut has spiral threads or grooves to guide the anchoring element from the first to the second orientation.

4. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut including a first stop and a second stop;

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom, wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut and is slidable along a length of the strut between a first position adjacent the first stop and a second position adjacent the second stop; and

a structure that changes the orientation of the barb when the anchoring element slides from the first position to the second position;

wherein the first stop is slidably attached to the strut and is configured to urge the anchoring element towards the second stop.

5. The medical prosthesis of claim 4 , wherein the second stop comprises a deflecting mechanism for manipulating the barb between the first and second orientations.

6. The medical prosthesis of claim 5 comprising a lock to lock the barb in the second orientation.

7. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut;

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at feast one barb extending therefrom; and

an actuation mechanism attached to the barb and a deflecting element located on the strut;

wherein the at least one barb includes at least one extended configuration for penetrating the tissue of a bodily surface when the prosthesis is implanted thereagainst;

wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut;

wherein the at least one strut includes a first stop and a second stop, the stops defining a longitudinal zone of movement for the anchoring element, the length of the longitudinal zone being greater than the length of the anchoring element;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable between a first configuration in which the barb assumes a first orientation and a second configuration in which the barb assumes a second orientation; wherein the second orientation is better adapted for allowing the barb to engage the tissue adjacent the prosthesis than is the first orientation; and

wherein the actuating mechanism is operable to urge the anchoring element over the strut until it contacts the deflecting element.

8. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut; and

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom;

wherein the at least one barb includes at least one extended configuration for penetrating the tissue of a bodily surface when the prosthesis is implanted thereagainst;

wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut;

wherein the at least one strut includes a first stop and a second stop, the stops defining a longitudinal zone of movement for the anchoring element, the length of the longitudinal zone being greater than the length of the anchoring element;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable between a first configuration in which the barb assumes a first orientation and a second configuration in which the barb assumes a second orientation; wherein the second orientation is better adapted for allowing the barb to engage the tissue adjacent the prosthesis than is the first orientation; and

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable by rotation and the strut is twisted to guide the anchoring element from the first to the second orientation.

9. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut; and

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom;

wherein the at least one barb includes at least one extended configuration for penetrating the tissue of a bodily surface when the prosthesis is implanted thereagainst;

wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut;

wherein the at least one strut includes a first stop and a second stop, the stops defining a longitudinal zone of movement for the anchoring element, the length of the longitudinal zone being greater than the length of the anchoring element;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable between a first configuration in which the barb assumes a first orientation and a second configuration in which the barb assumes a second orientation; wherein the second orientation is better adapted for allowing the barb to engage the tissue adjacent the prosthesis than is the first orientation; and

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable by rotation and the strut has spiral threads or grooves to guide the anchoring element from the first to the second orientation.

10. A medical prosthesis for implantation within the body of a patient, comprising:

a support structure comprising at least one strut; and

an anchoring element comprising a basal portion with at least one barb extending therefrom;

wherein the at least one barb includes at least one extended configuration for penetrating the tissue of a bodily surface when the prosthesis is implanted thereagainst;

wherein the anchoring element is slidably attached to the at least one strut;

wherein the at least one strut includes a first stop and a second stop, the stops defining a longitudinal zone of movement for the anchoring element, the length of the longitudinal zone being greater than the length of the anchoring element;

wherein the anchoring element is manipulable between a first configuration in which the barb assumes a first orientation and a second configuration in which the barb assumes a second orientation; wherein the second orientation is better adapted for allowing the barb to engage the tissue adjacent the prosthesis than is the first orientation; and

wherein the first stop is slidably attached to the strut and is configured to urge the anchoring element towards the second stop.

11. The medical prosthesis of claim 10 , wherein the second stop comprises a deflecting mechanism for manipulating the barb between the first and second orientations.

12. The medical prosthesis of claim 11 comprising a lock to lock the barb in the second orientation.