BIOCOMPATIBLE FOAM OCCLUSION DEVICE FOR SELF-EXPANDING HEART VALVES
A self-expandable ring seals a gap between a medical device and adjacent body tissue. The ring is disposed about the medical device and configured to self-expand from a first radius in a compressed condition to a second radius in an expanded condition, the second radius being greater than the first radius. The ring may be formed from a compliant biocompatible foam configured and arranged to conform to the body tissue.
1 . A biocompatible foam structure for sealing a gap between a medical device and adjacent body tissue, the structure comprising:
an expandable ring-shaped body configured to be disposed about the medical device and to expand from a first radius in a compressed condition to a second radius in an expanded condition, the second radius being greater than the first radius, the body being formed from a compliant biocompatible configured and arranged to conform to the body tissue.
2 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the biocompatible foam comprises a polymeric shape-memory material.
3 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 2 , wherein the biocompatible foam comprises a heat-activated shape-memory material.
4 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 3 , wherein the shape-memory material has a transition temperature of between about 34 degrees Celsius and about 40 degrees Celsius.
5 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 3 , wherein the shape-memory material has a transition temperature that is within one degree Celsius from core body temperature of a human being.
6 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body includes a plurality of voids dispersed throughout its mass to reduce density.
7 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body has a density of between about 10 kg/m 3 and about 60 kg/m 3 .
8 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body, when fully expanded has a circumferential stress of about 350 kPa.
9 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body is compressible to fit within a 18 Fr delivery system.
10 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the medical device is a prosthetic heart valve having a collapsible and expandable stent, a valve assembly disposed in the stent for controlling the flow of blood through the stent, and a cuff disposed about the valve assembly, and wherein the body overlaps with a portion of the cuff.
11 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body is configured to radially project about 3 mm to about 5 mm from an outer circumference of the medical device when no external force is applied thereupon.
12 . The biocompatible foam structure of claim 1 , wherein the body is coupleable to the medical device via sutures.
13 . A prosthetic heart valve, comprising:
a collapsible and expandable stent having a proximal end, a distal end, an annulus section adjacent the proximal end and an aortic section adjacent the distal end;
a collapsible and expandable valve assembly disposed within the stent and including a plurality of leaflets;
a cuff annularly disposed about the valve assembly in the annulus section; and
a ring-shaped body disposed about the stent and configured to expand from a first radius in a compressed condition to a second radius in an expanded condition, the second radius being greater than the first radius, the body being formed from a compliant biocompatible foam configured to conform to body tissue.
14 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 13 , wherein the biocompatible foam comprises a polymeric shape-memory material.
15 . The prosthetic heart valve of claim 14 , wherein the biocompatible foam comprises a heat-activated shape-memory material.
16 . A method of sealing a space between a medical device and adjacent tissue, the method comprising:
delivering the medical device and a ring-shaped body to a target site using a delivery system having a sheath disposed over the medical device and the body;
removing the sheath to expose the medical device and the body such that the medical device and the body expand; and
sealing the space between the expanded medical device and the adjacent tissue with the expanded body disposed therebetween.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the body is compressed within the sheath and self-expands upon unsheathing.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the body comprises a biocompatible foam.
19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the biocompatible foam comprises a heat-activated shape-memory polymer that changes shape when deployed at the target site.
20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the sealing step includes flushing the body with a fluid to aid in expanding the biocompatible foam of the body.