US 12,226,311 B2
Heart valve stents adapted for post-implant expansion
Visith Chung, Chino, CA (US); Da-Yu Chang, Irvine, CA (US); Brian S. Conklin, Orange, CA (US); Grace Myong Kim, Seal Beach, CA (US); Louis A. Campbell, Santa Ana, CA (US); Donald E. Bobo, Jr., Santa Ana, CA (US); Myron Howanec, Jr., Corona, CA (US); David S. Lin, Irvine, CA (US); Peng Norasing, Corona, CA (US); Francis M. Tran, Irvine, CA (US); Mark Van Nest, Rancho Santa Margarita, CA (US); Thomas Chien, Irvine, CA (US); Harvey H. Chen, Irvine, CA (US); Isidro L. Guerrero, Orange, CA (US); Derrick Johnson, Orange, CA (US); Paul A. Schmidt, Irvine, CA (US); and Cindy Woo, Irvine, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Feb. 13, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/168,514.
Application 18/168,514 is a continuation of application No. 16/773,802, filed on Jan. 27, 2020, granted, now 11,576,772, issued on Jan. 25, 2023.
Application 16/773,802 is a continuation of application No. 16/007,879, filed on Jun. 13, 2018, granted, now 10,543,085, issued on Jan. 28, 2020.
Application 16/007,879 is a continuation in part of application No. 15/624,427, filed on Jun. 15, 2017, granted, now 10,485,661, issued on Nov. 26, 2019.
Application 15/624,427 is a continuation of application No. 15/190,094, filed on Jun. 22, 2016, granted, now 10,052,200, issued on Aug. 21, 2018.
Application 15/190,094 is a continuation of application No. 14/136,318, filed on Dec. 20, 2013, granted, now 9,375,310, issued on Jun. 28, 2016.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/748,022, filed on Dec. 31, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0200986 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2418 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2409 (2013.01); A61F 2/2445 (2013.01); A61F 2/2433 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0033 (2013.01); A61F 2220/0075 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0054 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0004 (2013.01); A61F 2250/001 (2013.01); A61F 2250/006 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0063 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0071 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00011 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A prosthetic heart valve adapted for post-implant expansion and having an inflow end and an outflow end, comprising:
an inner structural support stent including a generally circular inflow band oriented around a central axis and having three upstanding commissure posts extending in an outflow direction, the stent defining an implant circumference that is substantially non-compressible in normal physiological use and has a first diameter, and wherein the inflow band is a continuous solid band except for at least one point of discontinuity around a periphery of the inflow band formed by a point of reduced axial cross sectional area so that upon application of an outward dilatory force from within the support stent substantially larger than forces associated with normal physiological use the inflow band fails by being broken or stretched at the at least one point of discontinuity and permits expansion of the support stent from the first diameter to a second diameter larger than the first diameter but prevents contraction of the inflow band; and
a plurality of flexible leaflets supported by the stent and configured to ensure one-way blood flow therethrough.