Repositionable heart valve and method
A method for percutaneously replacing a heart valve of a patient. In some embodiments the method includes the steps of percutaneously delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; expanding the anchor to a deployed configuration in which the anchor contacts tissue at a first anchor site; repositioning the anchor to a second anchor site; and deploying the anchor at the second anchor site.
1. A system for replacing a heart valve, comprising:
an implantable device adapted to be endovascularly delivered within a delivery device to a vicinity of a heart valve, wherein the implantable device comprises
an expandable anchor comprising a braided shape memory material that is adapted to self-expand, wherein the expandable anchor has a delivery configuration within the delivery device and an expanded configuration, and
a replacement heart valve coupled to the expandable anchor; and
a deployment system comprising:
a sheath having a distal end;
a plurality of tubes that are reversibly coupled to the proximal end of the implantable device, wherein the plurality of tubes are configured to apply distally directed forces on the proximal end of the implantable device, wherein the plurality of tubes are configured to extend distally from the distal end of the sheath, and wherein each of the plurality of tubes define a respective lumen;
a first plurality of wires configured to apply proximally directed forces on a distal region of the implantable device; and
a second plurality of wires configured to apply proximally directed forces on the proximal end of the implantable device, wherein each of the second plurality of wires extends through one of the respective lumens.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second the plurality of wires comprise sutures, and wherein the sutures are reversibly coupled to the implantable device.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the expandable anchor has a first length in the delivery configuration and a second length in the expanded configuration, wherein the first length is greater than the second length.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein a portion of the anchor is a bent portion, the bent portion defining a double layer of the anchor.