| Patent application number | Description | Published |
| 20090177276 | Degenerative Valvular Disease Specific Annuloplasty Rings - Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a step on the outflow side for ease of suturing, which may be indicated by a suture line. | 07-09-2009 |
| 20100057193 | FLEXIBLE HEART VALVE AND ASSOCIATED CONNECTING BAND - A highly flexible tissue-type heart valve is disclosed having a structural stent in a generally cylindrical configuration with cusps and commissures that are permitted to move radially. The stent commissures are constructed so that the cusps are pivotably or flexibly coupled together at the commissures to permit relative movement therebetween. The stent may be cloth-covered and may be a single element or may be made in three separate elements for a three cusp valve, each element having a cusp portion and two commissure portions; adjacent commissure portions for each pair of adjacent stent element combining to form the stent commissures. If the stent has separate elements their commissure portions may be pivotably or flexible coupled, or may be designed to completely separate into independent leaflets at bioresorbable couples. The cloth covering may have an outwardly projecting flap that mates with valve leaflets (e.g., pericardial leaflets) along the cusps and commissures. A connecting band may be provided that follows the cusps and commissures and extends outwardly. The valve is connected to the natural tissue along the undulating connecting band using conventional techniques, such as sutures. The connecting band may be a cloth-covered silicon member and attaches to the underside of the valve at the cusps to provide support to the stent and to the outer side of the valve at the commissures. The connecting band includes commissure portions defining generally axial gaps that help permit flexing of the valve. | 03-04-2010 |
| 20110015731 | Anatomically Approximate Prosthetic Mitral Valve - An anatomically approximate prosthetic heart valve includes dissimilar flexible leaflets, dissimilar commissures and/or a non-circular flow orifice. The heart valve may be implanted in the mitral position and have one larger leaflet oriented along the anterior aspect so as to mimic the natural anterior leaflet. Two other smaller leaflets extend around the posterior aspect of the valve. A basic structure providing peripheral support for the leaflets includes two taller commissures on both sides of the larger leaflet, with a third, smaller commissure between the other two leaflets. The larger leaflet may be thicker and/or stronger than the other two leaflets. The base structure defines a flow orifice intended to simulate the shape of the mitral annulus during the systolic phase. For example, the flow orifice may be elliptical. A relatively wide sewing ring has a contoured inflow end and is attached to the base structure in such a way that the valve can be implanted in an intra-atrial position and the taller commissures do not extend too far into the left ventricle, therefore avoiding injury to the ventricle. | 01-20-2011 |
| 20110034999 | DEGENERATIVE VALVULAR DISEASE SPECIFIC ANNULOPLASTY RINGS - Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a step on the outflow side for ease of suturing, which may be indicated by a suture line. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110160849 | BIMODAL TRICUSPID ANNULOPLASTY RING - A prosthetic remodeling tricuspid annuloplasty ring having two free ends can be configured to more accurately mimic native valve anatomy (e.g., shape) and movement during the cardiac cycle. A tricuspid ring can be provided with a substantially elliptical shape in the X-Y plane, and a bimodal saddle shape in the Z direction. The tricuspid ring can be configured to contract and expand during each cardiac cycle such that the area of the orifice and/or the diameter of the ring decrease with each contraction. Further, the elevation or non-planarity of the bimodal saddle shape can increase with each contraction. Movement of the tricuspid ring can vary in each different segment of the tricuspid ring. Tricuspid annuloplasty rings can be provided in a set, with changing ratios of diameter, changing out-of-plane static amplitudes, and changing amounts of dynamic movement in each different size of tricuspid ring. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20110224786 | Degenerative Valvular Disease Specific Annuloplasty Rings - Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a step on the outflow side for ease of suturing, which may be indicated by a suture line. | 09-15-2011 |
| 20110238171 | MITRAL ANNULOPLASTY RINGS WITH SEWING CUFF - Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a step on the outflow side for ease of suturing, which may be indicated by a suture line. | 09-29-2011 |
| 20110301704 | Annuloplasty Rings for Repair of Abnormal Mitral Valves - A remodeling mitral annuloplasty ring with a reduced anterior-to-posterior dimension to restore coaptation between the mitral leaflets in mitral valve insufficiency (IMVI). The ring has a generally oval shaped body with a major axis perpendicular to a minor axis, both perpendicular to a blood flow axis. An anterior section lies between anteriolateral and posteriomedial trigones, while a posterior section defines the remaining ring body and is divided into P | 12-08-2011 |