Anchoring device for a prosthetic heart valve

1. An anchor device ( 1 , 100 ) configured to cooperate with a heart valve prosthesis to be implanted at a patient's valve annulus, said device comprising:

a leakproof toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) that is compressible and expandable, comprising an external periphery and a surface defining a hole; and

an anchor element ( 3 , 300 ) presenting a compressible and expandable mesh structure comprising a ventricular collar ( 33 , 303 ) and an auricular collar ( 31 , 301 ) connected together by a tubular portion ( 32 , 302 );

said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) surrounding said tubular portion ( 32 , 302 ) of said anchor element ( 3 , 300 ) and said anchor element being intended to encircle said heart valve prosthesis;

wherein said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) presents, over at least a portion of its external periphery, a zone of weakness ( 24 , 204 ) against radial compression when in situation and said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) presents, over at least a portion of the surface defining its hole, a zone ( 23 , 203 ) of increased resistance to radial compression when in situation.

2. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) presents a mesh structure covered in a film ( 22 , 202 ) of polymer material.

3. A device according to claim 2 , characterized in that said polymer material is selected from: silicone, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyurethane, polyamide, polyester, fluorinated resin, or by a combination of at least two of these materials.

4. A device according to claim 2 , wherein the zone of weakness is obtained by using a material of varying modulus of elasticity.

5. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said mesh structure is made at least of a metal material having shape memory or a polymer material having shape memory.

6. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said tubular portion ( 32 , 302 ) of said anchor element ( 3 , 300 ) presents a height h and said toroidal element presents a minor diameter d, wherein the anchor element height h is less than the minor diameter d of said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ).

7. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said zone of weakness ( 24 , 204 ) against radial compression when in situation comprises a discontinuity in the mesh constituting said mesh structure of said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ).

8. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said zone ( 23 , 203 ) of increased resistance to radial compression when in situation comprises a mesh that is denser than the remainder of the mesh constituting said mesh structure of said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ).

9. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said zone of increased resistance to radial compression when in situation comprises a reinforcing band ( 23 , 203 ).

10. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said auricular collar ( 31 ) and said ventricular collar ( 33 ) of said anchor element ( 3 ) are symmetrical.

11. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said auricular collar ( 301 ) and said ventricular collar ( 303 ) of said anchor element ( 300 ) are asymmetrical.

12. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ) presents an external diameter D 2 lying in the range 30 mm to 70 mm.

13. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that each of said collars ( 31 , 33 , 301 , 303 ) of said anchor element ( 3 , 300 ) presents an external diameter D 4 lying in the range 40 mm to 70 mm.

14. A device according to claim 1 , characterized in that it further includes stabilization hooks ( 5 , 500 ).

15. A device according to claim 14 , characterized in that at least some of said hooks ( 5 , 500 ) are distributed on the external diameter D 2 of said toroidal element ( 2 , 200 ).

16. A device according to claim 14 , characterized in that at least some of said stabilization hooks ( 5 , 500 ) are provided on at least one of said auricular collar ( 31 , 301 ) and said ventricular collar ( 33 , 303 ).