Externally Expandable Heart Valve Anchor and Method
The invention includes methods of and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; and applying an external non-hydraulic or non-pneumatic actuation force on the anchor to change the shape of the anchor, such as by applying proximally and/or distally directed force on the anchor using a releasable deployment tool to expand and contract the anchor or parts of the anchor.
1 - 65 . (canceled)
66 . A prosthetic heart valve comprising:
a support member having a plurality of segments and at least one foldable junction member connecting two adjacent segments, the support member having an expanded state and a contracted state, and
a valvular body having a plurality of leaflets attached to said support member.
67 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said support member comprises at least three segments.
68 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein each segment comprises a panel.
69 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said support member is generally tubular in the expanded state.
70 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 69 , wherein said support member is generally cylindrical in the expanded state.
71 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said foldable junction member comprises a hinge.
72 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 71 , wherein said hinge comprises one of the following: a mechanical hinge, a membrane hinge, or a living hinge.
73 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said support member further comprises an anchoring member.
74 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 73 , wherein said anchoring member has a delivery position and a deployment position, and further comprising an actuator adapted to move said anchoring member from its delivery position to its deployment condition.
75 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 73 , wherein said anchoring member has a delivery position and a deployment position, and wherein said anchoring member is self-actuating from its delivery position to its deployment position.
76 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said plurality of leaflets of said valvular body are separate.
77 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said valvular body comprises animal tissue.
78 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said valvular body comprises human tissue.
79 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 66 , wherein said valvular body is attached to the interior of said support member.
80 . A support member adapted to provide a scaffolding force to the interior of a body lumen comprising:
a plurality of peripheral segments and at least one foldable junction member connecting two adjacent peripheral segments, the support member having an expanded state having a first maximum cross-sectional dimension and a contracted state having a second maximum cross-sectional dimension, with the first maximum cross-sectional dimension being larger than the second maximum cross-sectional dimension.
81 . The support member of claim 80 , wherein said support member comprises at least three peripheral segments.
82 . The support member of claim 80 , wherein each peripheral segment comprises a panel.
83 . The support member of claim 80 , wherein the support member is generally tubular in the expanded state.
84 . The support member of claim 83 , wherein said support member is generally cylindrical in the expanded state.
85 . The support member of claim 80 , wherein said foldable junction member comprises a hinge.
86 . The support member of claim 85 , wherein said hinge comprises one of the following: a mechanical hinge, a membrane hinge, or a living hinge.
87 . The support member of claim 80 , further comprising an anchoring member.
88 . The support member of claim 87 , wherein said anchoring member has a delivery position and a deployment position, and further comprising an actuator adapted to move said anchoring member from its delivery position to its deployment condition.
89 . The support member of claim 87 , wherein said anchoring member has a delivery position and a deployment position, and wherein said anchoring member is self-actuating from its delivery position to its deployment position.