Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of positioning a valve prosthesis in a patient's chest through a penetration in a patient for implanting the valve prosthesis in the patient's heart, the method comprising: providing a valve prosthesis having an annular attachment ring for attaching to cardiac tissue in the heart, the attachment ring having a central axis and an outer diameter; creating a penetration in the patient; creating an opening in at least one of the patient's vascular system and heart to expose a valve through the penetration and opening; positioning the valve prosthesis through the penetration using an elongated instrument having a distal end for engaging the valve prosthesis, a proximal end held outside the chest, and a longitudinal axis, the central axis of the annular attachment ring being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated instrument during the positioning step, the elongated instrument and valve prosthesis having a profile height along the central axis, the outer diameter of the attachment ring being greater than the profile height; passing the valve prosthesis through the opening; separating the valve from the distal end of the elongated instrument; securing the valve prosthesis to the patient's heart using another instrument passing through the penetration and opening; and closing the penetration and opening.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
208 words
A method of positioning a valve prosthesis in a patient's chest through a penetration in a patient for implanting the valve prosthesis in the patient's heart, the method comprising: providing a valve prosthesis having an annular attachment ring for attaching to cardiac tissue in the heart, the attachment ring having a central axis and an outer diameter; creating a penetration in the patient; creating an opening in at least one of the patient's vascular system and heart to expose a valve through the penetration and opening; positioning the valve prosthesis through the penetration using an elongated instrument having a distal end for engaging the valve prosthesis, a proximal end held outside the chest, and a longitudinal axis, the central axis of the annular attachment ring being generally perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the elongated instrument during the positioning step, the elongated instrument and valve prosthesis having a profile height along the central axis, the outer diameter of the attachment ring being greater than the profile height; passing the valve prosthesis through the opening; separating the valve from the distal end of the elongated instrument; securing the valve prosthesis to the patient's heart using another instrument passing through the penetration and opening; and closing the penetration and opening.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the elongated instrument is removably coupled to the valve prosthesis, the step of positioning comprising manipulating the elongated instrument to position the valve assembly through the penetration.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the valve prosthesis is removably mounted to a holder, the elongated instrument being coupled to the holder, the method further comprising removing the valve prosthesis from the holder within the chest using instruments manipulated from outside the patient's chest.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of positioning a valve prosthesis into a patient's chest through a percutaneous penetration in an intercostal space between two adjacent ribs for implanting the valve prosthesis in the heart, the method comprising: providing a valve prosthesis having an annular attachment ring for attaching to cardiac tissue in the heart of a patient; creating a percutaneous penetration in an intercostal space between two adjacent ribs in the patient; creating an opening in at least one of a patient's vascular system and heart; positioning the valve prosthesis through the percutaneous penetration in the patient using an elongated instrument having a distal end for engaging the valve prosthesis, a proximal end held outside the chest, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the central axis of the annular attachment ring being in a first orientation which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis during the positioning step; passing the valve prosthesis through the opening; separating the valve prosthesis from the elongated instrument; securing the valve prosthesis to the patient's hear using an instrument passing through the penetration and opening; closing the penetration and opening; and re-orienting the valve prosthesis into a second orientation relative to the elongated instrument within the chest after the step of positioning.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of positioning a valve prosthesis into a patient's chest through a percutaneous penetration in an intercostal space between two adjacent ribs for implanting the valve prosthesis in the heart, the method comprising: providing a valve prosthesis having an annular attachment ring for attaching to cardiac tissue in the heart of a patient; creating a percutaneous penetration in an intercostal space between two adjacent ribs in the patient; creating an opening in at least one of a patient's vascular system and heart; positioning the valve prosthesis through the percutaneous penetration in the patient using an elongated instrument having a distal end for engaging the valve prosthesis, a proximal end held outside the chest, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the central axis of the annular attachment ring being in a first orientation which is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis during the positioning step; passing the valve prosthesis through the opening; separating the valve prosthesis from the elongated instrument; securing the valve prosthesis to the patient's hear using an instrument passing through the penetration and opening; closing the penetration and opening; and re-orienting the valve prosthesis into a second orientation relative to the elongated instrument within the chest after the step of positioning.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the step of re-orienting comprises actuating an actuator at the proximal end of the elongated instrument, the actuator being linked to a movable coupling at the distal end of the elongated instrument which is coupled to the valve prosthesis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the second orientation is generally perpendicular to the first orientation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 4 wherein, in the second orientation, the central axis of the annular attachment ring is generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated instrument.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the chest has a plurality of ribs and a sternum, the ribs and sternum being maintained intact during each of said steps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the percutaneous penetration is disposed in a right lateral side of the patient's chest.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the valve prosthesis is introduced through the penetration in a first orientation relative to the elongated instrument, the method further comprising re-orienting the valve prosthesis into a second orientation relative to the elongated instrument.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the second orientation is generally perpendicular to the first orientation.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 10 wherein, in the second orientation, a central axis of the annular attachment ring is generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the elongated instrument.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the valve prosthesis is held by the elongated instrument during the step of positioning, and the step of re-orienting comprises actuating an actuator at the proximal end of the elongated instrument outside of the chest, the actuator being linked to a movable coupling at the distal end of the elongated instrument which is coupled to the valve prosthesis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: delivering a cardioplegic fluid to the patient's heart thereby arresting the patient's heart.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the step of re-orienting comprises actuating an actuator at the proximal end of the elongated instrument, the actuator being linked to a movable coupling at the distal end of the elongated instrument which is coupled to the valve prosthesis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of: occluding the ascending aorta using an aortic occlusion catheter; the delivering step being carried out by delivering the cardioplegic fluid through a lumen in the aortic occlusion catheter.