Implantable scaffolding containing an orifice for use with a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve

1. A surgical method for improving cardiac function, comprising:

inserting an implantable scaffold or valve support device inside a patient;

attaching said scaffold or valve support device to the patient so that said scaffold or valve support device is proximate to a native valve of the patient, said native valve having a natural valve opening, said scaffold or valve support device defining an orifice; and

after the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to the patient, seating a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice,

wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support includes operatively securing said scaffold or valve support device to subvalvular apparatus of said native valve, wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the subvalvular apparatus includes attaching at least one tether element to the subvalvular apparatus, drawing the tether element through said natural valve opening, and attaching the tether element to said scaffold or valve support device only after attaching the tether element to the subvalvular apparatus,

wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the subvalvular apparatus includes drawing said at least one tether element through said orifice prior to the seating of said prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice, and clamping the tether element between said scaffold or valve support device and the prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve by virtue of the seating thereof in said orifice.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting of said scaffold or valve support device includes disposing said scaffold or valve support device inside the patient's heart, and wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device includes attaching said scaffold or valve support device at least indirectly to a wall of the patient's heart adjacent to said native valve.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the subvalvular apparatus further includes connecting a fastener to said at least one tether element to lock said at least one tether element relative to said scaffold or valve support device.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting of said scaffold or valve support device includes disposing said scaffold or valve support device proximately to a plane of said native valve, and wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device includes attaching said scaffold or valve support device to leaflets of said native valve, a coupling of said scaffold or valve support device indirectly to the subvalvular apparatus of the native valve being implemented by the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to said leaflets.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the inserting of said scaffold or valve support device inside the patient includes inserting said scaffold or valve support device inside the patient through a catheter.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said scaffold or support device has a flexible outer margin surrounding and spaced from said orifice, the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device comprising deforming said outer margin to conform said outer margin to a heart or vessel wall adjacent to said native valve.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the deforming said outer margin includes differentially adjusting said outer margin by manipulating a plurality of guide wires, filaments or cords removably attached to said outer margin at circumferentially spaced locations thereon.

8. A surgical method for improving cardiac function, comprising:

inserting an implantable scaffold or valve support device inside a patient;

attaching said scaffold or valve support device to the patient so that said scaffold or valve support device is proximate to a native valve of the patient, said native valve having a natural valve opening, said scaffold or valve support device defining an orifice; and

after the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to the patient, seating a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice,

wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support includes operatively securing said scaffold or valve support device to subvalvular apparatus or valve leaflets of said native valve so as to anchor said scaffold or valve support device to said subvalvular apparatus directly or indirectly via said valve leaflets,

wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the subvalvular apparatus or valve leaflets includes moving or inserting at least one tether element through said natural valve opening and attaching said at least one tether element on one side to the subvalvular apparatus or the valve leaflets and subsequently attaching said at least one tether element on another side to said scaffold or valve support device,

wherein the moving or inserting of said at least one tether element through said natural valve opening including drawing or pulling said at least one tether element through said natural valve opening prior to the attaching of said at least one tether element to said scaffold or valve support device, and

wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the subvalvular apparatus or valve leaflets includes: drawing or pulling said at least one tether element through said orifice prior to the seating of said prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice, and clamping said at least one tether element between said scaffold or valve support device and the prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve by virtue of the seating thereof in said orifice.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said native valve is a mitral valve and wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device includes attaching said scaffold or valve support device to leaflets of said mitral valve, a securing said scaffold or valve support device indirectly to subvalvular apparatus of the heart being implemented by the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to said leaflets.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the valve leaflets or subvalvular apparatus further includes connecting a fastener to said at least one tether element to lock said at least one tether element relative to said scaffold or valve support device.

11. A surgical method for improving cardiac function, comprising:

inserting an implantable scaffold or valve support device inside a patient, said implantable scaffold or valve support device having an inner margin element defining an orifice, and an outer margin element coplanar with and surrounding said inner margin element, said outer margin element and said inner margin element being different from one another and spaced in their entireties from one another;

attaching said scaffold or valve support device to the patient so that said inner margin element is proximate to a native valve of the patient and so that both said inner margin element and said outer margin element are inside a hollow organ of the patient containing said native valve, said native valve having a natural valve opening, the attaching of scaffold or valve support device including attaching said outer margin element to a wall surface of said hollow organ proximate to and spaced from said native valve so that the entire implantable scaffold or valve support device including said inner margin element and said outer margin element is disposed on one side of said wall surface and one side of said native valve; and

after the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to the patient, seating a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said outer margin element is flexible, the attaching of said outer margin element to said inner surface of said hollow organ including deforming said outer margin element to conform at least in part to an irregular portion of said wall surface of said hollow organ.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the inserting of said scaffold or valve support device includes disposing said scaffold or valve support device inside the patient's heart, and wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device includes attaching said scaffold or valve support device at least indirectly to a wall of the patient's heart adjacent to said native valve.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support includes operatively securing said scaffold or valve support device to chordae tendineae of the heart.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the chordae tendineae includes attaching at least one tether element to the chordae tendineae, drawing the tether element through said orifice prior to the seating of said prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice, and clamping the tether element between the scaffold and the prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve by virtue of the seating thereof in said orifice.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the securing of said scaffold or valve support device to the chordae tendineae includes connecting a fastener to said tether element to lock said tether element relative to said scaffold or valve support device.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the inserting of said scaffold or valve support device includes disposing said scaffold or valve support device in a plane of a mitral valve, and wherein the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device includes attaching said scaffold or valve support device to leaflets of said mitral valve, the securing said scaffold or valve support device to chordae tendineae of the heart being implemented by the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to said leaflets.

18. A surgical method for improving cardiac function, comprising:

inserting an implantable scaffold or valve support device inside a patient, said implantable scaffold or valve support device having an inner margin element defining an orifice, and an outer margin element surrounding said inner margin element, said outer margin element and said inner margin element being different from one another and spaced in their entireties from one another;

attaching said scaffold or valve support device to the patient so that said inner margin element is proximate to a native valve of the patient and so that both said inner margin element and said outer margin element are inside a hollow organ of the patient containing said native valve, said native valve having a natural valve opening, the attaching of scaffold or valve su sort device including attaching said outer margin element to a wall surface of said hollow organ proximate to and spaced from said native valve so that said inner margin element and said outer margin element are on the same side of said wall surface; and after the attaching of said scaffold or valve support device to the patient, seating a prosthetic or bio-prosthetic valve in said orifice, wherein the deforming said outer margin element includes differentially adjusting said outer margin element by manipulating a plurality of guide wires, filaments or cords removably attached at their distal ends and only their distal ends to said outer margin element at circumferentially spaced locations thereon.