Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
44 words
An implantable replacement mitral valve comprising: a xenograft mitral valve including an annulus, cordae tendineae, unaltered papillary heads and a portion of the endocardium containing the papillary heads; a sewing robe attached to the unaltered papillary heads and extending away from the cordae tendineae.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
44 words
An implantable replacement mitral valve comprising: a xenograft mitral valve including an annulus, cordae tendineae, unaltered papillary heads and a portion of the endocardium containing the papillary heads; a sewing robe attached to the unaltered papillary heads and extending away from the cordae tendineae.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mitral valve of claim 1 further comprising an annular cover made of a flexible material attached to the annulus of the mitral valve.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The mitral valve of claim 2 wherein the annular cover is attached to the annulus by sutures so that there are no exposed edges on the annular cover.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mitral valve of claim 1 further comprising markers attached to the mitral valve to aid in aligning the mitral valve in the human heart when the mitral valve is implanted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mitral valve of claim 4 wherein the markers include a short axis marker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mitral valve of claim 5 wherein the short axis marker is a colored suture.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mitral valve of claim 4 wherein the markers include a trigone marker.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mitral valve of claim 7 wherein the trigone marker is a colored suture.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mitral valve of claim 4 wherein the markers include a commisural marker.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mitral valve of claim 9 wherein the commisural marker is a colored suture.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The mitral valve of claim 1 wherein the papillary heads are covered with a flexible material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
The mitral valve of claim 11 wherein the papillary heads are covered with flexible material by suturing small pieces of the flexible material to the papillary heads between the cordae tendineae.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mitral valve of claim 1 wherein the sewing tube is made according to the steps of: providing a rectangular piece of flexible material, the rectangular piece having opposed edges; bringing together the opposed edges; directing the opposed edges toward the interior of a tube formed thereby; suturing the opposed edges to each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mitral valve of claim 13 wherein the rectangular piece of flexible material has dimensions of from about 15 to 45 min. by about 10 to 50 mm so that the resulting sewing tube will have dimensions of about 5 to 15 min. in diameter and 10 to 50 mm. in length.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mitral valve of claim 13 wherein the rectangular piece of flexible material has visual indicators spaced regularly along the rectangular piece.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mitral valve of claim 15 wherein the visual indicators are colored markers.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mitral valve of claim 13 wherein the rectangular piece is made of polyester.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mitral valve of claim 13 wherein the rectangular piece is made of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mitral valve of claim 13 wherein the rectangular piece is made of pericardial tissue.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
183 words
A mitral valve for replacing a damaged or diseased mitral valve in a human made according to the steps of: collecting a whole pig heart having endocardium, a mitral valve, cordae tendineae, papillary heads, left ventricle and left atrium shortly after the death of a pig, the mitral valve having an annulus; sectioning the left ventricle and left atrium of the pig heart thereby exposing the mitral valve, cordae tendineae and papillary heads of the pig heart; fixing the porcine mitral valve; excising the mitral valve from the pig heart remnant to include a portion of the endocardium containing the papillary heads so that for each set of cordae tendineae and papillary head, the entire cordae tendineae and substantially the entire corresponding papillary head is removed unaltered; attaching an annular cover to the annulus of the mitral valve; covering the remnants of the papillary heads with a section of flexible material; fashioning a sewing tube of a flexible material; attaching the sewing tube directly to the remnant of the unaltered papillary head so that the sewing tube extends away from the mitral valve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
183 words
A mitral valve for replacing a damaged or diseased mitral valve in a human made according to the steps of: collecting a whole pig heart having endocardium, a mitral valve, cordae tendineae, papillary heads, left ventricle and left atrium shortly after the death of a pig, the mitral valve having an annulus; sectioning the left ventricle and left atrium of the pig heart thereby exposing the mitral valve, cordae tendineae and papillary heads of the pig heart; fixing the porcine mitral valve; excising the mitral valve from the pig heart remnant to include a portion of the endocardium containing the papillary heads so that for each set of cordae tendineae and papillary head, the entire cordae tendineae and substantially the entire corresponding papillary head is removed unaltered; attaching an annular cover to the annulus of the mitral valve; covering the remnants of the papillary heads with a section of flexible material; fashioning a sewing tube of a flexible material; attaching the sewing tube directly to the remnant of the unaltered papillary head so that the sewing tube extends away from the mitral valve.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
54 words
The mitral valve of claim 20 wherein the sewing tube is made according to the steps of: providing a rectangular piece of flexible material, the rectangular piece having opposed edges; bringing together the opposed edges; directing the opposed edges toward the interior of a tube formed thereby; suturing the opposed edges to each other.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
52 words
The mitral valve of claim 21 wherein the rectangular piece of flexible material has dimensions of from about 15 to 45 mm. by about 10 to 50 mm so that the resulting sewing tube will have dimensions of about 5 to 15 mm. in diameter and 10 to 50 mm. in length.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mitral valve of claim 21 wherein the rectangular piece of flexible material has visual indicators spaced regularly along the rectangular piece.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
13 words
The mitral valve of claim 23 wherein the visual indicators are colored markers.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The mitral valve of claim 21 wherein the rectangular piece is made of polyester.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mitral valve of claim 21 wherein the rectangular piece is made of polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
15 words
The mitral valve of claim 24 wherein the rectangular piece is made of pericardial tissue.