Apparatus and methods for repairing the function of a diseased valve and method for making same

1. An apparatus for repairing the function of a diseased valve, the apparatus comprising:

an annular first support member having longitudinally spaced proximal and distal first support member ends, the distal first support member end having a plurality of eyelets defining a distal first support member circumference;

an annular second support member having longitudinally spaced proximal and distal second support member ends, the proximal second support member end having a plurality of eyelets defining a proximal second support member circumference;

a tubular graft section having longitudinally spaced first and second graft ends, the first graft end being a proximal graft end and the second graft end being a distal graft end, and a graft neck annulus located longitudinally between the first and second graft ends, the first and second graft ends defining first and second graft end circumferences, respectively, and the graft neck annulus defining a graft neck circumference which is smaller than both of the first and second graft end circumferences when the apparatus is in an implanted position in a patient's heart;

the first graft end being directly attached to the distal first support member end with the distal first support member circumference being substantially coincident with the first graft end circumference;

the second graft end being directly attached to the proximal second support member end with the proximal second support member circumference being substantially coincident with the second graft end circumference; and

a prosthetic valve secured within the graft neck annulus, the prosthetic valve having at least two valve leaflets that are coaptable to permit the unidirectional flow of blood, and the prosthetic valve being longitudinally spaced from both of the first and second annular support members; wherein

the tubular graft section is the only structure of the apparatus which is directly connected to both the first and second annular support members,

and the prosthetic valve is directly secured only to the tubular graft section.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the distal first support member circumference has a different diameter than a diameter of the proximal second support member circumference when the apparatus is in an implanted position in a patient's heart.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the distal first support member circumference and proximal second support member circumference is located laterally inside the tubular graft section.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first graft end is directly attached to the distal first support member end with the distal first support member circumference located laterally inside the first graft end circumference, and the second graft end is directly attached to the proximal second support member end with the proximal second support member circumference located laterally outside the second graft end circumference.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic valve has a longitudinally extending center valve axis, the graft neck annulus has a longitudinally extending center graft axis, and the prosthetic valve is secured within the graft neck annulus with the center valve axis being laterally offset from the center graft axis.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the prosthetic valve has a longitudinally extending center valve axis, the graft neck annulus has a longitudinally extending center graft axis, and the prosthetic valve is secured within the graft neck annulus with the center valve axis being substantially perpendicular to the center graft axis.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the tubular graft section is supported only by the first and second support members.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , including an expandable ring encircling the graft neck annulus, positively establishing the graft neck circumference, and supporting the prosthetic valve secured within the graft neck annulus.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second graft end includes a plurality of extension flaps that extend longitudinally toward the distal second support member end, the number and circumferential orientations of the extension flaps corresponding to the number and circumferential orientations of the valve leaflets.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second graft end includes a plurality of extension struts that extend longitudinally toward the distal second support member end, the number and circumferential orientations of the extension struts corresponding to the number and circumferential orientations of the valve leaflets, with each extension strut being connected to one of the valve leaflets.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein a first end of each extension strut is adjacent to the second graft end, and a second end of each extension strut, located longitudinally distal of the first graft end, is connected to a circumferentially extending strut ring located longitudinally between the proximal second support member end and the distal second support member end.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the graft neck annulus is functionally independent from both a diameter of the first annular support member and a diameter of the second annular support member.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first support member is configured to be at least partially located in a superior vena cava, the second support member is configured to be at least partially located in an inferior vena cava, and the prosthetic valve is configured to repair the function of a native tricuspid valve.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first support member is configured to be at least partially located in a chosen one of an inferior and a superior vena cava, the second support member is configured to be at least partially located in a right atrium, and the prosthetic valve is located in the chosen one of the inferior and superior vena cava and is configured to repair the function of a native tricuspid valve.