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US6083219A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for the treatment of damaged heart value leaflets and method of using the device

Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1999-01-12
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Granted: 2000-07-04
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Expires: 2019-01-12
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Abstract

Abstract A device and method for treating infected or damaged heart valve tissue by selectively heating, applying pressure, or both to the heart valve tissue to sterilize any infected portion of the tissue, reshape any misshapen portion, effect selective thinning of any thickened portion, and reduce the floppiness of any selected portion. The heat can be applied to or induced in the heart valve tissue.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael D. Laufer

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-22 22:51
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B17/00; A61B2017/00017; A61B2017/00022; A61B2017/00084; A61B2017/00115; A61B2017/00119; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2018/00636; A61B2018/00642

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim 122 words
A method for treating an infected or damaged heart valve leaflet, comprising the steps of: placing a first member having at least one curved surface thereon in contact with a first side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet conforms to the curved surface; placing a second member having at least one curved surface thereon in contact with a second side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet is in contact with the curved surface on the first member and the curved surface on the second member; and energizing the first member and the second member to heat the heart valve leaflet to a temperature sufficient to sterilize or reshape the heart valve leaflet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 122 words
A method for treating an infected or damaged heart valve leaflet, comprising the steps of: placing a first member having at least one curved surface thereon in contact with a first side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet conforms to the curved surface; placing a second member having at least one curved surface thereon in contact with a second side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet is in contact with the curved surface on the first member and the curved surface on the second member; and energizing the first member and the second member to heat the heart valve leaflet to a temperature sufficient to sterilize or reshape the heart valve leaflet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of: compressing the heart valve leaflet between the first member and the second member.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the heart valve leaflet is energized to a temperature in the range of about 40 degrees Celsius to about 110 degrees Celsius.
Claim 5
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for training a person to perform a method for treating an infected or damaged heart valve leaflet, comprising the step of: demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following steps of: placing a first member having at least one protrusion thereon in contact with a first side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet conforms to the surface of the protrusion; placing a second member having at least one protrusion thereon in contact with a second side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet is in contact with the protrusion on the first member and the protrusion on the second member; and energizing the first member and the second member to heat the heart valve leaflet to a temperature sufficient to sterilize or reshape the heart valve leaflet.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 138 words
A method for training a person to perform a method for treating an infected or damaged heart valve leaflet, comprising the step of: demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following steps of: placing a first member having at least one protrusion thereon in contact with a first side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet conforms to the surface of the protrusion; placing a second member having at least one protrusion thereon in contact with a second side of the heart valve leaflet such that the heart valve leaflet is in contact with the protrusion on the first member and the protrusion on the second member; and energizing the first member and the second member to heat the heart valve leaflet to a temperature sufficient to sterilize or reshape the heart valve leaflet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 4 further comprising the step of: demonstrating or instructing the performance of the following step of: compressing the heart valve leaflet between the first member and the second member.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-07-04 2004-01-03 2004-07-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-07-04 2008-01-03 2008-07-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-07-04 2012-01-03 2012-07-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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