Patent attributes
A method of treating a defective heart valve includes inserting a delivery catheter through a small incision in a patient's groin, wherein the delivery catheter has a prosthetic device positioned along a distal end. The prosthetic device includes an insert member and an anchoring member. The insert member self-expands to plug gaps between leaflets of the heart valve. The anchoring member is preferably a stent connected to the insert member by at least one elongate member. The stent is deployed within an adjacent blood vessel for anchoring the insert member. After deployment of the prosthetic device, the leaflets of the heart valve form a tight seal against the insert member for preventing regurgitation when the leaflets are closed and wherein blood passes through the insert member when the leaflets are open.
