Fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue
View Patent ↗A fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue having proximal and distal annular portions positionable relative to one another, the proximal and distal annular portions each having a proximal and distal sides, the proximal side of the distal annular portion and the distal side of the proximal annular portion being oriented toward one another, and a prosthetic heart valve being attachable to one of the distal side of the distal annular portion and the proximal side of the proximal annular portion; staples configured between the distal side of the proximal annular portion and the proximal side of the distal annular portion; and a compression device operative between the proximal and distal annular portions for selectively positioning the proximal and distal annular members toward one another for compressing the staples therebetween and deploying the staples into tissue so as to affix the prosthetic heart valve to tissue.
1. A method for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, the method comprising:
providing a fixation band for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, the fixation band comprising:
a structure having a proximal end and a distal end in opposition to one another, and a lateral region between the proximal end and the distal end, wherein the prosthetic heart valve is attached to one of the proximal end and the distal end of the structure;
a plurality of barbs selectively configurable between a first position and a second position, the barbs being contained within a peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the first position, and the barbs being extended from the peripheral boundary of the lateral region of the structure in the second position; and
an actuator for selectively moving the plurality of barbs between the first position and the second position, the actuator including a spring in a loaded configuration that is releasable for causing a cog to rotate, which in turn causes the barbs to be deployed through the lateral portion of the fixation band;
positioning the fixation band adjacent to the tissue; and
actuating the fixation band so as to affix the prosthetic valve to tissue.