US5843179A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Suture guard for prosthetic heart valve
Assignee: St Jude Medical LLC
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Filing: 1996-10-21
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Granted: 1998-12-01
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Expires: 2016-10-21
Abstract
Abstract A heart valve prosthesis for use in a heart includes an orifice defining a lumen therethrough for blood flow. An occluder is carried in the orifice and is movable between an open position which allows blood flow through the lumen and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is blocked. A suture cuff coupled to the orifice extends around an outer circumference of the orifice and is used for attaching the heart valve to a heart tissue annulus using sutures. The sutures are knotted proximate the suture cuff to secure the cuff to the annulus. A suture guard is coupled to the suture cuff and is movable between an open position in which the suture knot is exposed and a closed position in which the suture, suture knot and suture cuff are covered.
Inventors
- 👤 Guy P. Vanney
- 👤 Deborah A. Loch
- 👤 Kimberly A. Anderson
- 👤 Susan M. Mulvaney
- 👤 Kurt D. Krueger
- 👤 Michael J. Girard
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:34
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2409
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A heart valve prosthesis, comprising: an orifice housing having an exterior circumference and providing a lumen therethrough; an occluder movable in the orifice housing between an open position allowing flow through the lumen and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is blocked; a suture cuff extending around the exterior circumference and coupled to the orifice housing, the suture cuff adapted for receiving an attachment mechanism therethrough for attaching the prosthesis to a heart tissue annulus, wherein the cuff provides an attachment surface for carrying the attachment mechanism thereon; and a guard integral with the heart valve prosthesis which includes a plurality of elongated fingers attached to the cuff, the fingers bendable between an open position in which the attachment surface is exposed and a closed position covering the attachment surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A heart valve prosthesis, comprising: an orifice housing having an exterior circumference and providing a lumen therethrough; an occluder movable in the orifice housing between an open position allowing flow through the lumen and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is blocked; a suture cuff extending around the exterior circumference and coupled to the orifice housing, the suture cuff adapted for receiving an attachment mechanism therethrough for attaching the prosthesis to a heart tissue annulus, wherein the cuff provides an attachment surface for carrying the attachment mechanism thereon; and a guard integral with the heart valve prosthesis which includes a plurality of elongated fingers attached to the cuff, the fingers bendable between an open position in which the attachment surface is exposed and a closed position covering the attachment surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the guard includes a support ring extending around the exterior circumference of the orifice housing which carries the elongated fingers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 2 wherein the orifice housing includes first and second spaced apart rims which extend around the exterior circumference and the support ring is secured therebetween.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 2 wherein the support ring is carried in the cuff.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 4 wherein the cuff comprises folded cuff material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the cuff comprises folded fabric which covers the guard.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein at least one of the elongated fingers includes first and second spokes defining an opening therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 7 wherein at least one of the elongated fingers includes a top portion which extends between the first and second spokes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein at least one of the elongated fingers includes a tip portion which is spaced apart from the orifice housing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 9 wherein the tip portion is concave relative to the orifice housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
46 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein at least one of the elongated fingers includes a region of reduced width adjacent the orifice housing whereby movement of the guard between the open position and a closed position occurs substantially at the region of reduced width.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein at least one of the fingers includes a solid portion spaced apart from the orifice housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the guard generally conforms to a shape of the native heart tissue annulus in the closed position.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the fingers have a substantially constant thickness.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the elongated fingers extend in a radially outward direction in the closed position.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heart valve prosthesis of claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism comprises a suture which forms a suture knot on the attachment surface.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of implanting a heart valve prosthesis in a heart tissue annulus of a patient's heart, comprising: attaching a suture cuff of the prosthesis to the tissue annulus with a suture; placing the prosthesis in the tissue annulus; forming a knot in the suture on a knot surface of the suture cuff; and bending an attached suture guard from an open position in which the guard extends in a direction substantially parallel with an axis of the valve to a closed position in which the guard extends in a substantially radial direction and thereby covering the knot with the suture guard.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of implanting a heart valve prosthesis in a heart tissue annulus of a patient's heart, comprising: attaching a suture cuff of the prosthesis to the tissue annulus with a suture; placing the prosthesis in the tissue annulus; forming a knot in the suture on a knot surface of the suture cuff; and bending an attached suture guard from an open position in which the guard extends in a direction substantially parallel with an axis of the valve to a closed position in which the guard extends in a substantially radial direction and thereby covering the knot with the suture guard.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of bending comprises bending the suture guard whereby the suture guard extends in a radially outward direction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the step of bending comprises bending the suture guard whereby the suture guard extends in a radially inward direction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-11-30 | 2002-06-01 | 2002-12-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-11-30 | 2006-06-01 | 2006-12-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-11-30 | 2010-06-01 | 2010-12-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |