Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
47 words
1 . A holder for an annuloplasty repair segment, comprising: an elongate template adapted to attach to an annuloplasty repair segment and being adapted to pass in a generally linear shape through a tube, the template being convertible from the generally linear shape to a curved shape.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
47 words
1 . A holder for an annuloplasty repair segment, comprising: an elongate template adapted to attach to an annuloplasty repair segment and being adapted to pass in a generally linear shape through a tube, the template being convertible from the generally linear shape to a curved shape.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
2 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the template is flexible.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
3 . The holder of claim 2 , wherein the template is biased toward the curved shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
4 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the curved shape is three-dimensional.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
5 . The holder of claim 1 , further including a deflection mechanism for converting the template between the linear shape and the curved shape.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
6 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the template is capable of a temperature-induced shape change between the linear shape and the curved shape.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
7 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the template includes a plurality of hinged sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
8 . The holder of claim 7 , further including a deflection mechanism for converting the template between the linear shape and the curved shape.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
42 words
9 . The holder of claim 1 , wherein the template is flexible but unbiased from the linear shape, the holder further including a biasing member adapted to insert within the template so as to bias the template toward the curved shape.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
10 . The holder of claim 1 , further including a handle attached to the template for passing the template through the tube and for manipulating the template to position the annuloplasty repair segment into proximity with a valve annulus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
11 . The holder of claim 1 , further including an anchor mandrel to which the template is releasably attached, and a tether connecting the template and anchor mandrel when released.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
12 . The holder of claim 1 , further including suture location markers on the template to facilitate suture alignment with anatomical landmarks.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
56 words
13 . A combination annuloplasty repair segment and holder, comprising: a holder including a template having a generally linear shape in at least one position, the template being adapted to undergo a shape change along its length; and an annuloplasty repair segment attached to the template and configured to assume the changed shape of the template.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
13 . A combination annuloplasty repair segment and holder, comprising: a holder including a template having a generally linear shape in at least one position, the template being adapted to undergo a shape change along its length; and an annuloplasty repair segment attached to the template and configured to assume the changed shape of the template.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
14 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the template is flexible and the shape change occurs from bending of the template.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
15 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the template is biased toward the changed shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
16 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the changed shape is a curve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
17 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the curve is three-dimensional.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
18 . The combination of claim 13 , further including a deflection mechanism for converting the template between the linear shape and the changed shape.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
19 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the template includes a plurality of hinged sections.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
25 words
20 . The combination of claim 19 , further including a deflection mechanism for converting the template between the linear shape and the curved shape.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
21 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the template is capable of a temperature-induced shape change between the linear shape and the changed shape.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
22 . The combination of claim 13 , wherein the template is flexible but unbiased from the linear shape, the holder further including a biasing member adapted to insert within the template so as to bias the template toward the curved shape.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
32 words
23 . The combination of claim 13 , further including a handle attached to the template for manipulating the template to position the annuloplasty repair segment into proximity with a valve annulus.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
24 . The combination of claim 13 , further including an anchor mandrel to which the template is releasably attached, and a tether connecting the template and anchor mandrel when released.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
25 . The combination of claim 13 , further including suture location markers on the template to facilitate suture alignment with anatomical landmarks.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
76 words
26 . An annuloplasty repair segment delivery system, comprising: a delivery sheath; an anchor mandrel slidably disposed within the sheath near a distal end thereof and restrained from exiting the sheath; and an elongate template adapted to attach to a flexible annuloplasty repair segment and being releasably attached to the anchor mandrel, the template being convertible from a generally linear shape within the sheath to a curved shape when ejected from the end of the sheath.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
76 words
26 . An annuloplasty repair segment delivery system, comprising: a delivery sheath; an anchor mandrel slidably disposed within the sheath near a distal end thereof and restrained from exiting the sheath; and an elongate template adapted to attach to a flexible annuloplasty repair segment and being releasably attached to the anchor mandrel, the template being convertible from a generally linear shape within the sheath to a curved shape when ejected from the end of the sheath.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
27 . The system of claim 26 , further including a tether connecting the template and anchor mandrel when released.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
28 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the template is biased toward the changed shape.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
15 words
29 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the changed shape is a curve.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
30 . The system of claim 29 , wherein the curve is three-dimensional.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
46 words
31 . The system of claim 26 , wherein the template includes a handle portion and a forming portion, the forming portion being biased into a curved shape and being attached to the flexible annuloplasty repair segment so that the segment also assumes the curved shape.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
16 words
32 . The system of claim 31 , wherein the forming portion inserts within the segment.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
87 words
33 . A method of implanting an annuloplasty repair segment in a heart valve annulus, comprising: providing a holder having a flexible template adapted to attach to an annuloplasty repair segment, the template being convertible from a generally linear shape to a curved shape; attaching an annuloplasty repair segment to the flexible template; delivering the repair segment attached to the template to a heart valve annulus; causing the template and repair segment to simultaneously undergo a shape change; and attaching the annuloplasty repair segment to the annulus.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
87 words
33 . A method of implanting an annuloplasty repair segment in a heart valve annulus, comprising: providing a holder having a flexible template adapted to attach to an annuloplasty repair segment, the template being convertible from a generally linear shape to a curved shape; attaching an annuloplasty repair segment to the flexible template; delivering the repair segment attached to the template to a heart valve annulus; causing the template and repair segment to simultaneously undergo a shape change; and attaching the annuloplasty repair segment to the annulus.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
27 words
34 . The method of claim 33 , wherein the step of delivering includes delivering the annuloplasty repair segment attached to the template through a minimally-invasive tube.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
35 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the minimally-invasive tube is first inserted through an access incision in the chest wall into proximity with the annulus.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
34 words
36 . The method of claim 34 , wherein the minimally-invasive tube is first inserted through an access incision in the peripheral vasculature and passed through the vascular system into proximity with the annulus.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
23 words
37 . The method of claim 34 , further including releasing the template from the tube after delivering the template through the tube.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
36 words
38 . The method of claim 37 , wherein the holder includes an anchor mandrel slidable within the tube but constrained from exiting the tube, and the elongate template is releasably attached to the anchor mandrel.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
20 words
39 . The method of claim 38 , further including a tether connecting the template and anchor mandrel when released.