Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
A heart valve stent frame of metal wire formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped portions, each said post comprising two wire portions, one radially within the other so that the circumferential thickness of each said post is only the width of one said wire portion.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
A heart valve stent frame of metal wire formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped portions, each said post comprising two wire portions, one radially within the other so that the circumferential thickness of each said post is only the width of one said wire portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
59 words
A heart valve stent frame of metal wire formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped portions, each said post comprising two wire portions, one radially within the other so that the circumferential thickness of each said post is only the width of one said wire portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A heart valve stent frame of metal wire formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped portions, each said post comprising two wire portions, one radially within the other so that the circumferential thickness of each said post is only the width of one said wire portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The stent frame of claim 1 having a smooth shield covering each said post.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent frame of claim 2 wherein said shield comprises an elastomeric coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent frame of claim 2 wherein said shield comprises a fabRic pledget.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A tricuspid heart valve stent frame, comprising three metal wires, each formed generally along a segment of a closed-curve cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and also having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in-line radially with the end of another said wire and secured to it, whereby the meeting ends lie with one end radially within the other and without increasing the thickness along the cylindrical surface beyond the wire thickness.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A tricuspid heart valve stent frame, comprising three metal wires, each formed generally along a segment of a closed-curve cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and also having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in-line radially with the end of another said wire and secured to it, whereby the meeting ends lie with one end radially within the other and without increasing the thickness along the cylindrical surface beyond the wire thickness.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
85 words
A tricuspid heart valve stent frame, comprising three identical curved wires disposed in a circular closed figure around a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding vertical portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, the wire ends of each adjacent pair of wires being welded together radially in line, whereby the meeting ends lie with one end radially within the other without increasing the thickness along the cylindrical surface beyond the wire thickness.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
85 words
A tricuspid heart valve stent frame, comprising three identical curved wires disposed in a circular closed figure around a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding vertical portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, the wire ends of each adjacent pair of wires being welded together radially in line, whereby the meeting ends lie with one end radially within the other without increasing the thickness along the cylindrical surface beyond the wire thickness.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The stent frame of claim 6 wherein said welded ends are covered with a smooth shield.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The stent frame of claim 7 wherein said shield comprises a coating of silicone elastomer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The stent frame of claim 7 wherein said shield comprises a fabric pledget.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tricuspid graft support ring for valve fabrication and implantation, including in combination: a frame of metal wire encircling a closed-curved cylindrical surface and having a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped intermediate portions, each post comprising two substantially parallel wire portions in-line radially so that the thickness of each post along the circumferential distance is only that of one said wire portion, and a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame and providing extension portions for anchoring stitches.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
87 words
A tricuspid graft support ring for valve fabrication and implantation, including in combination: a frame of metal wire encircling a closed-curved cylindrical surface and having a plurality of upstanding posts blending into a plurality of arcuately dipped intermediate portions, each post comprising two substantially parallel wire portions in-line radially so that the thickness of each post along the circumferential distance is only that of one said wire portion, and a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame and providing extension portions for anchoring stitches.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The ring of claim 10 for a tricuspid valve having three posts and three arcuately dipped portions and being generally circular in shape.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
37 words
The ring of claim 10 wherein said extension portions of said fabric covering comprise a pair of radial wings at each post, one extending inwardly and one outwardly and a continuous portion along each arcuately dipped portion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The ring of claim 10 wherein said upstanding posts are smoothly covered by shield means to prevent the metal from striking through the fabric.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The ring of claim 13 wherein the smooth covering shield means is an elastomeric coating on the wire.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The ring of claim 13 wherein the smooth covering shield means is a cloth pledget.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The ring of claim 10 wherein said frame comprises three wires secured together, their ends meeting at the posts.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
162 words
A graft support ring for valve transplantation, including in combination: a frame made up of three metal wires, each formed generally along a segment of a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in line radially with the end of another said wire and secured to it, so that the meeting ends lie with one radially within the other and without adding to the thickness along the cylindrical surface, said meeting ends forming three posts, a shield over each said post, and a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame, said shield preventing later strikethrough of the cloth by the metal during use, said fabric covering providing a pair of radial wings at each post for receiving stitches, one extending inwardly and one outwardly, and providing a stitch-receiving projection along said arcuately dipped portions.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
162 words
A graft support ring for valve transplantation, including in combination: a frame made up of three metal wires, each formed generally along a segment of a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in line radially with the end of another said wire and secured to it, so that the meeting ends lie with one radially within the other and without adding to the thickness along the cylindrical surface, said meeting ends forming three posts, a shield over each said post, and a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame, said shield preventing later strikethrough of the cloth by the metal during use, said fabric covering providing a pair of radial wings at each post for receiving stitches, one extending inwardly and one outwardly, and providing a stitch-receiving projection along said arcuately dipped portions.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tricuspid heart valve, comprising a metal frame formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising three upstanding posts blenDing into three arcuately dipped intermediate portions, each said post comprising two wire portions disposed so that one lies radially within the other so that each post is only as wide in a circumferential direction as one said wire portion, a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame and providing extension portions for receiving stitches, and three tissue members, one for each said dipped portion shaped to meet in a cusp and provide a tricuspid valve and covering all surfaces of said fabric and frame both inside and out and sutured to said fabric.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
116 words
A tricuspid heart valve, comprising a metal frame formed along a closed-curve cylindrical surface and comprising three upstanding posts blenDing into three arcuately dipped intermediate portions, each said post comprising two wire portions disposed so that one lies radially within the other so that each post is only as wide in a circumferential direction as one said wire portion, a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame and providing extension portions for receiving stitches, and three tissue members, one for each said dipped portion shaped to meet in a cusp and provide a tricuspid valve and covering all surfaces of said fabric and frame both inside and out and sutured to said fabric.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
40 words
The heart valve of claim 18 wherein said extensions comprise a substantially continuous extension along each said dipped portion and a pair of radially extending wings at each said post, one extending in radially and the other extending out radially.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
202 words
A heart valve, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of wires, each formed along a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end blending into a line parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in line radially with the end of an adjacent said wire, so that when the ends meet, they lie with one radially within the other and meet without forming a thickness greater than their wire thickness along the cylindrical surface, said meeting ends forming posts, a smooth covering over each said post, a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame, said smooth covering preventing later strike-through of the cloth by the metal during use, said fabric covering providing a pair of radial wings at each post, one extending inwardly and one outwardly, and providing a continuous projection along each said arcuately dipped portion, for sewing attachment, and a plurality of tissue members, one for each said wire, shaped to provide a cuspid valve and covering substantially all surfaces of said fabric and wires, both inside and out, and sutured to said fabric wings and said projection.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
202 words
A heart valve, comprising a frame made up of a plurality of wires, each formed along a circular cylindrical surface, each wire having an upstanding portion at each end blending into a line parallel to the axis of the cylinder and having an arcuately dipped intermediate portion, each end of each wire being in line radially with the end of an adjacent said wire, so that when the ends meet, they lie with one radially within the other and meet without forming a thickness greater than their wire thickness along the cylindrical surface, said meeting ends forming posts, a smooth covering over each said post, a fabric covering completely surrounding said frame and enclosing the frame, said smooth covering preventing later strike-through of the cloth by the metal during use, said fabric covering providing a pair of radial wings at each post, one extending inwardly and one outwardly, and providing a continuous projection along each said arcuately dipped portion, for sewing attachment, and a plurality of tissue members, one for each said wire, shaped to provide a cuspid valve and covering substantially all surfaces of said fabric and wires, both inside and out, and sutured to said fabric wings and said projection.