| abstract |
A system for replacing a pulmonary valve includes a conduit having a lumen, a delivery catheter and a replacement valve device disposed on the delivery catheter. The replacement valve device includes a prosthetic valve connected to a valve support region of an expandable support structure. The valve support region includes a plurality of protective struts disposed between a first stent region and a second stent region. A method for replacing a pulmonary valve includes implanting a conduit and delivering a replacement valve device to the conduit. The replacement valve device includes a valve connected to a valve support region that includes a plurality of protective struts. The method also includes deploying the prosthetic valve device from a delivery catheter into the lumen, positioning the prosthetic valve device within the conduit lumen and expanding the prosthetic valve device into contact with the inner wall of the conduit. |