IMPLANTABLE PROSTHETIC DEVICES PARTICULARLY FOR TRANSARTERIAL DELIVERY IN THE TREATMENT OF AORTIC STENOSIS, AND METHODS OF IMPLANTING SUCH DEVICES

摘要

Prosthetic devices as described for use in the treatment of aortic stenosis inthe aortic valve of a patient's heart, the prosthetic device having acompressed state for transarterial delivery and being expandable to anexpanded state for implantation. The prosthetic device includes an expandablemetal base (10) constructed so as to be implantable in the expanded state ofthe prosthetic device in the aortic annulus of the aortic valve; and an innerenvelope lining (11) tune inner surface of the metal base (10). The innerenvelope, in the expanded state of the prosthetic device, extends into theaorta and is of a diverging conical configuration, in which its diametergradually increases from its proximal end within the aortic annulus to itsdistal end extending into the aorta, such as to produce, during systole, a non-turbulent blood flow into the aorta with pressure recovery at the distal endof the inner envelope. Preferably, the distal end includes a prosthetic valvewhich is also concurrently implanted, but such a prosthetic valve may beimplanted separately in the aorta. Also described are preferred methods ofimplanting such prosthetic devices.