US5984959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Heart valve replacement tools and procedures
Assignee: United States Surgical Corp
•
Filing: 1997-09-19
•
Granted: 1999-11-16
•
Expires: 2017-09-19
Abstract
Abstract There are disclosed various systems for installing a heart valve within a patient. In a first system, there are provided a heart valve installation assembly and an expandable heart valve ring installation assembly, each of which comprises a separate tool. The expandable heart valve ring assembly is provided to position and expand a heart valve ring into engagement with tissue. The valve installation assembly is provided to position and engage the heart valve with the expandable heart valve ring. In a second system, the heart valve installation assemblies and expandable ring installation assemblies are provided on a single tool or instrument. There are also disclosed various methods of installing an expandable heart valve ring within a heart and positioning and installing an artificial synthetic heart valve within the expanded heart valve ring.
Inventors
- 👤 John Charles Robertson
- 👤 Brian W. Moulder
- 👤 Roberto Pedros
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 12:10
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2427; A61F2/2409; A61F2250/00; A61F2250/0004; A61F2250/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising: a heart valve ring implantable within the heart of a patient; a ring installation assembly configured to engage the heart valve ring with the heart, the ring installation assembly including a support for receipt of the heart valve ring; a valve installation assembly having a support to releasably support a synthetic heart valve, the valve installation assembly being operable to insert the heart valve into the heart valve ring; and wherein the heart valve ring includes at least one tab member foldable about the heart valve to secure the heart valve to the heart valve ring.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising: a heart valve ring implantable within the heart of a patient; a ring installation assembly configured to engage the heart valve ring with the heart, the ring installation assembly including a support for receipt of the heart valve ring; a valve installation assembly having a support to releasably support a synthetic heart valve, the valve installation assembly being operable to insert the heart valve into the heart valve ring; and wherein the heart valve ring includes at least one tab member foldable about the heart valve to secure the heart valve to the heart valve ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the heart valve ring is expandable from a reduced diameter configuration to an increased diameter configuration to engage the heart.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the ring installation assembly is operable to move the heart valve ring from the reduced diameter configuration to the increased diameter configuration.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the heart valve ring is formed from an elongated strip of material and includes at least one latch which engages at least one opening formed in the strip to maintain the heart valve ring in the expanded configuration.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system of claim 2, wherein the ring installation assembly has camming structure for expanding the heart valve ring from the reduced diameter configuration to the increased diameter configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5, wherein movement of at least part of the camming structure distally relative to the heart valve ring moves the heart valve ring from the reduced diameter configuration to the increased diameter configuration.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The system of claim 5, wherein movement of at least part of the camming structure proximally relative to the heart valve ring moves the heart valve ring from the reduced diameter configuration to the increased diameter configuration.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the ring installation assembly includes a ring installation tool and the valve installation assembly includes a valve installation tool separate from the ring installation tool.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
39 words
The system of claim 8, wherein the valve installation tool includes a housing and a valve positioner movably associated with the housing, the valve positioner movable to insert a heart valve releasably held thereon into the heart valve ring.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the valve installation tool includes a release mechanism to release the heart valve thereon.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 9, wherein the valve installation tool includes structure for holding the heart valve ring stationary relative to at least the housing of the valve installation tool.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The system of claim 11, wherein the housing including distally projecting quick bars configured to engage the heart valve ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 1, wherein the valve ring installation assembly and the heart valve installation assembly form a single instrument.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 13, wherein at least a portion of the ring installation assembly is movably mounted within the heart valve installation assembly.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of installing a heart valve within a patient comprising the steps of: providing a system including a ring installation assembly releasably supporting an expandable heart valve ring and a heart valve installation assembly releasably supporting a heart valve, the heart valve ring including at least one tab member for engagement with the heart valve; accessing a site within the heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; expanding the heart valve ring into engagement with the heart; positioning the heart valve within the heart valve ring; and securing the heart valve to the heart valve ring.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of installing a heart valve within a patient comprising the steps of: providing a system including a ring installation assembly releasably supporting an expandable heart valve ring and a heart valve installation assembly releasably supporting a heart valve, the heart valve ring including at least one tab member for engagement with the heart valve; accessing a site within the heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; expanding the heart valve ring into engagement with the heart; positioning the heart valve within the heart valve ring; and securing the heart valve to the heart valve ring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve ring is expanded into engagement with the heart tissue in response to actuation of the ring installation assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
A The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve is positioned within the heart valve ring in response to actuation of the heart valve installation assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the ring installation assembly is removed from the accessed site prior to the step of actuating the heart valve installation assembly.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve ring is maintained in an expanded condition by structure incorporated into the heart valve ring.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve is positioned within the heart valve ring by engaging a portion of the heart valve installation assembly with the heart valve ring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve is positioned within the heart valve ring by moving the heart valve installation assembly relative to the ring installation assembly.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 15, wherein the heart valve installation assembly is removed from the accessed site prior to the step of securing the heart valve to the heart valve ring.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising: a heart valve ring implantable within the heart of a patient; a ring installation assembly configured to engage the heart valve ring with the heart, the ring installation assembly including a support for receipt of the heart valve ring; a valve installation assembly having a support to releasably support a synthetic valve installation, the heart valve assembly being operable to insert the heart valve within the heart valve ring, which is expandable from a reduced diameter configuration to an increased diameter configuration to engage the heart; and wherein the heart valve ring is formed from an elongated strip of material and includes at least one latch which engages at least one opening formed in the strip to maintain the heart valve ring in the expanded configuration.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
137 words
A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising: a heart valve ring implantable within the heart of a patient; a ring installation assembly configured to engage the heart valve ring with the heart, the ring installation assembly including a support for receipt of the heart valve ring; a valve installation assembly having a support to releasably support a synthetic valve installation, the heart valve assembly being operable to insert the heart valve within the heart valve ring, which is expandable from a reduced diameter configuration to an increased diameter configuration to engage the heart; and wherein the heart valve ring is formed from an elongated strip of material and includes at least one latch which engages at least one opening formed in the strip to maintain the heart valve ring in the expanded configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US34150A
Cited
CA809965A
Cited
SU207339A1
Cited
US2682057A
Cited
US3143742A
Cited
US3371352A
Cited
US3464065A
Cited
US3546710A
Cited
US3587115A
Cited
US3524202A
Cited
US3508281A
Cited
US3574865A
Cited
US3691567A
Cited
US3722004A
Cited
US3828787A
Cited
US3996623A
Cited
SU782808A1
Cited
US4056854A
Cited
US4233690A
Cited
SU878285A1
Cited
SU969265A1
Cited
SU1008937A1
Cited
US4865600A
Cited
EP0103546A1
Cited
US4602911A
Cited
US4506394A
Cited
US4535483A
Cited
US4585453A
Cited
EP0200419A2
Cited
US4683883A
Cited
US5326373A
Cited
USRE34150E
Cited
WO1987005489A1
Cited
SU1697790A1
Cited
SU1507368A1
Cited
US5716398A
Cited
US4960424A
Cited
US4932965A
Cited
SU1621912A1
Cited
SU1690738A1
Cited
WO1991001697A1
Cited
US5041130A
Cited
US5290300A
Cited
US5350420A
Cited
US5167223A
Cited
US5074858A
Cited
US5089015A
Cited
WO1991017720A1
Cited
US5197979A
Cited
WO1993001768A1
Cited
US5545214A
Cited
US5370685A
Cited
US5571170A
Cited
US5500016A
Cited
US5236450A
Cited
WO1994001062A1
Cited
US5522884A
Cited
WO1994018909A2
Cited
US5571215A
Cited
US5713951A
Cited
US5403305A
Cited
US5545209A
Cited
US5584879A
Cited
US5509930A
Cited
US5423851A
Cited
US5476510A
Cited
US5716401A
Cited
US5522885A
Cited
US5531785A
Cited
US5480425A
Cited
US5593435A
Cited
US5582607A
Cited
US5578076A
Cited
US5716370A
Cited
US5716402A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-11-15 | 2003-05-17 | 2003-11-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-11-15 | 2007-05-17 | 2007-11-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-11-15 | 2011-05-17 | 2011-11-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |