Patent US6019739A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6019739A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Minimally invasive valve annulus sizer
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp
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Filing: 1998-06-18
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Granted: 2000-02-01
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Expires: 2018-06-18
Abstract
Abstract An annulus sizer measures the size of a valve annulus during annuloplasty surgery. The annulus sizer includes a sizing portion for measuring the valve annulus and a coupling portion for attaching to a handle. The coupling portion is disposed on a proximal surface of the sizing portion. The sizing portion has a thickness on the order of about 0.1 inch. This relatively small thickness of the sizer facilitates minimally invasive annuloplasty surgery. For example, the sizer may be inserted through a relatively small intercostal incision. In addition, the relatively thin sizing portion minimizes optical distortion. The coupling portion may be disposed on the sizing portion at a location which is offset from the center of the sizer, thereby defining an enlarged viewing area. The coupling portion may have threading to engage with threading of the handle to ensure secure attachment.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard S. Rhee
- 👤 Keith E. Myers
- 👤 Jerry L. Jackman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:42
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2496; A61B; A61B90/00; A61B90/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
50 words
A sizer for measuring a valve annulus, said sizer comprising: a coupling portion for releasably attaching to a handle; and a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus; said coupling portion being disposed on said sizing portion; and said sizing portion having a thickness of less than about 0.2 inch.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
50 words
A sizer for measuring a valve annulus, said sizer comprising: a coupling portion for releasably attaching to a handle; and a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus; said coupling portion being disposed on said sizing portion; and said sizing portion having a thickness of less than about 0.2 inch.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion is optically transparent.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion has a major axis and a minor axis; said sizing portion having a length along said major axis at least about 1.2 times greater than a length along said minor axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 3 wherein said sizing portion has a major axis and a minor axis with an intersection; said coupling portion being positioned substantially at said intersection.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion is substantially flat and thin, with a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a thin peripheral side wall.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 5 wherein said proximal surface having a center, and said coupling portion is positioned on said sizing portion at a location which is offset from said center.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sizing portion has a major axis and a minor axis; said coupling portion being offset from said center along said minor axis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 7 wherein said coupling portion is positioned substantially on said major axis.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion has a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a side wall; said surfaces being substantially kidney shaped such that said side wall has a concave side and a convex side.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said coupling portion is positioned on said sizing portion at a location which is closer to said concave side than to said convex side of said side wall.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sizing portion has a major axis and a minor axis; said concave side being offset from said minor axis.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion has a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a side wall; said side wall tapering from said distal surface to said proximal surface.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sizing portion has a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a side wall defining an edge with each of said surfaces; said edges being rounded.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein said coupling portion includes threading.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
A sizer as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said sizing portion has a major axis and a minor axis with an intersection; and said coupling portion has a central axis; said coupling portion being positioned on said sizing portion such that said central axis substantially intersects said intersection.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
115 words
A sizer for measuring a valve annulus, said sizer comprising: a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus and having a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a side wall having a thickness which is less than about 0.2 inch, the side wall defining a shape having a major axis and a minor axis, and a geometric center defined at the intersection of the major and minor axes; and a coupling portion for releasably attaching to a handle and disposed on said sizing portion at a location which is generally on the minor axis and spaced from the nearest side wall a distance which is less than or equal to 40% of the minor axis.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
A sizer for measuring a valve annulus, said sizer comprising: a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus and having a distal surface, a proximal surface, and a side wall having a thickness which is less than about 0.2 inch, the side wall defining a shape having a major axis and a minor axis, and a geometric center defined at the intersection of the major and minor axes; and a coupling portion for releasably attaching to a handle and disposed on said sizing portion at a location which is generally on the minor axis and spaced from the nearest side wall a distance which is less than or equal to 40% of the minor axis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
56 words
Surgical apparatus for measuring a valve annulus, said surgical apparatus comprising: a handle; and a sizer including a coupling portion for attaching to said handle and a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus; said coupling portion being disposed on said sizing portion; and said sizing portion having a thickness of less than about 0.2 inch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
56 words
Surgical apparatus for measuring a valve annulus, said surgical apparatus comprising: a handle; and a sizer including a coupling portion for attaching to said handle and a sizing portion for measuring a valve annulus; said coupling portion being disposed on said sizing portion; and said sizing portion having a thickness of less than about 0.2 inch.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
Surgical apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said coupling portion is releasably attachable to said handle.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
13 words
Surgical apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein said coupling portion includes threading.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
25 words
Surgical apparatus as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of said sizers; each of said sizers having a sizing portion of predetermined size.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
12 words
Surgical apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said handle is bendable.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for measuring a valve annulus of a heart, said method comprising the steps of: providing a handle; providing a plurality of sizers, each of said sizers including a sizing portion having a thickness which is less than about 0.2 inch and a coupling portion disposed on a proximal side of said sizing portion; selecting one of said sizers; attaching said handle to said coupling portion of said selected sizer; and positioning said attached sizer on a valve annulus having a size.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
83 words
A method for measuring a valve annulus of a heart, said method comprising the steps of: providing a handle; providing a plurality of sizers, each of said sizers including a sizing portion having a thickness which is less than about 0.2 inch and a coupling portion disposed on a proximal side of said sizing portion; selecting one of said sizers; attaching said handle to said coupling portion of said selected sizer; and positioning said attached sizer on a valve annulus having a size.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: removing said selected sizer from the valve annulus; detaching said handle; selecting another one of said sizers; attaching said handle to said coupling portion of said selected sizer; and positioning said attached sizer on the valve annulus.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of: repeating said further steps of claim 23 until the size of the valve annulus is determined.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of annuloplasty rings each of different size; and selecting one of said annuloplasty rings which has a size corresponding to that of the valve annulus.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of: implanting said selected annuloplasty ring on the valve annulus.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said positioning step comprises the step of: positioning said attached sizer on a valve annulus of a mitral valve.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 27, wherein said positioning step comprises the step of: positioning said attached sizer on a valve annulus of a tricuspid valve.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the step of: providing access to the heart.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said step of providing access comprises the step of: providing access to the heart intercostally.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 30, wherein said step of providing access comprises the step of: forming an opening between two adjacent ribs.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 31, further comprising the step of: inserting said selected sizer through said opening.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
49 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein said step of providing a plurality of sizers comprises the step of: providing a plurality of sizers each of which includes a sizing portion having a length defined along a major axis greater than a length defined along a minor axis.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 33, further comprising the steps of: forming an opening between two adjacent ribs such that said opening has an intercostal length less than said length defined along said minor axis of said sizing portion.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method as claimed in claim 34, further comprising the steps of: tilting said selected sizer such that said selected sizer is oblique to said opening; and inserting said selected sizer through said opening.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said inserting step comprises the step of: inserting said selected sizer through said opening such that a leading edge of said sizer defined by said minor axis passes through said opening first.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of providing a handle comprises the step of: providing a handle which is bendable.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising the step of: bending said handle to facilitate said step of inserting said selected sizer.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein: said step of providing a handle comprises the step of: providing a handle with threading disposed on a distal end thereof; said step of providing a plurality of sizers comprises the step of: providing a plurality of sizers each of which includes a coupling portion with threading; and said attaching step comprises the step of: threading said selected sizer to said handle.
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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) | 2003-01-31 | 2003-08-02 | 2004-02-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-01-31 | 2007-08-02 | 2008-02-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-01-31 | 2011-08-02 | 2012-02-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |