Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A device for holding a heart valve prosthesis during implantation comprising plug means for receiving the heart valve prosthesis; releasable grip means cooperable with said plug means to selectively secure the heart valve prosthesis to said plug means or release said prosthesis therefrom; and handle means cooperable with said plug means for positioning the heart valve prosthesis during implantation thereof.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A device for holding a heart valve prosthesis during implantation comprising plug means for receiving the heart valve prosthesis; releasable grip means cooperable with said plug means to selectively secure the heart valve prosthesis to said plug means or release said prosthesis therefrom; and handle means cooperable with said plug means for positioning the heart valve prosthesis during implantation thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein the releasable grip means includes two leg members pivotally connected to each other and each having feet means that engage the heart valve prosthesis to secure said prosthesis to said plug means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
68 words
The device of Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the heart valve has an annular valve body with upward- and downward-facing surfaces, said plug means has a generally downward-facing surface for receiving the upward-facing surface of the valve body; said grip means engages the downward-facing surface of the valve body; and means for releasing said grip means from said plug means while said handle means is engaged therewith.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
189 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein said plug means is substantially cylindrically-shaped having a recessed shoulder at one end sized to fit within the inside surface of the body of the heart valve prosthesis, a seat at the end of the plug means opposite the recessed shoulder, the plug means having two passages therethrough extending between the two ends of the plug means and parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof, wall means projecting upwardly from the periphery of the seat adjacent each passageway, and means for receiving said handle means; and said grip means includes two legs, each sized in length to extend through the passageways in the plug means, each leg depending from a base member, the base members being resiliently hinged together, each leg having an outwardly extending end so that when the legs of the grip are placed through the passageways of the plug, the legs move radially outwardly, the outwardly extending ends engaging the edge of the heart valve prosthesis to secure the same to the plug means and being maintained in such position by a camming force exerted thereupon by the projecting wall means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The device of Claim 4 wherein the legs are inherently biased outward toward their prosthesis engaging position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
The device of Claim 4 or Claim 5 in which at least one of the base members of the grip means includes an upwardly extending tab to facilitate retraction of the grip means upon pulling upwardly on the tab.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
49 words
The device of any of Claims 1 to 6 wherein the plug means includes a hole coaxial with the axis of the plug for receiving the handle means, the base members of the grip means having a hole therethrough to provide access to the hole in the plug means.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
49 words
The device of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the plug means includes two slots on the outside thereof and lying in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the plug means, for receiving locking and stabilizing means in the enclosure for shipping the assembled prosthesis and holder.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
234 words
The device of Claim 1 wherein said plug means is substantially cylindrically-shaped having a recessed shoulder at one end sized to frictionally engage the inside surface of the body of the heart valve prosthesis, a V-shaped seat at the end of the plug means opposite the recessed shoulder, the plug means having two passages therethrough extending between the two ends of the plug means and parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof, wall means projecting upwardly from the periphery of the seat adjacent each passageway and means for receiving said handle means,and said grip means includes two legs, each sized in length to extend through the passageways in the plug means, each leg depending from a base member, the base members being hinged together, with the outer edge of each leg being angled inwardly from the outer edge of its base member at an angle substantially equal to the angle between each half of the V-shaped seat and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the plug means, each leg having an outwardly extending end so that when the legs of the grip are placed through the passageways in the plug, the legs move radially outwardly, and the outwardly extending ends engaging the edge of the heart valve prosthesis to secure the same to the plug means and being maintained in such position by a camming force exerted thereupon by the projecting wall means.