CPC A61F 2/2409 (2013.01) [A61F 2/24 (2013.01); A61F 2/2418 (2013.01); A61F 2/2436 (2013.01); A61F 2/2475 (2013.01); A61F 2/9517 (2020.05); A61F 2220/0008 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0075 (2013.01); A61F 2250/006 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0069 (2013.01)] | 26 Claims |
1. A method of installing an expandable stent in a right ventricular outflow tract, the method comprising:
positioning a frame of the expandable stent at a deployed position in the right ventricular outflow tract, the frame including a waist portion defined by at least one row of generally diamond-shaped cells, and first and second opposed sealing portions extending from the waist portion, the expandable stent further including a fabric cover secured to the frame at least at the first and second sealing portions; and
expanding the frame such that the waist portion expands to a first diameter, the first sealing portion expands to a second diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a first portion of an inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract, and the second sealing portion expands to a third diameter larger than the first diameter and into contact with a second portion of the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract;
wherein the waist portion is spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position;
wherein the first diameter is limited by a band, separate from the fabric cover and overlapping with the fabric cover along the waist portion, and wherein the band has a width that covers the at least one row of generally diamond-shaped cells of the waist portion, without extending beyond the waist portion, and restricts expansion of the waist portion substantially beyond the first diameter to maintain the waist portion spaced apart from the inner surface of the right ventricular outflow tract at the deployed position; and
wherein the fabric cover is secured to an exterior of the frame to define an exterior surface of the expandable stent, and the band is secured to an interior of the frame to define an interior surface of the expandable stent.
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