US6406492B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Annuloplasty ring holder
Assignee: Corcym SRL
•
Filing: 1999-04-08
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2019-04-08
Abstract
Abstract The invention, in a first aspect, is an apparatus for holding a flexible annuloplasty ring during implantation. The apparatus comprises a top piece including a bottom surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and finished to grip the annuloplasty ring; a bottom piece including a top surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and finished to grip the annuloplasty ring; and a haft capable of engaging the top and bottom pieces to clamp the annuloplasty ring therebetween. In a second aspect, the invention is a method of manipulating a flexible annuloplasty ring for implantation. The method comprises disposing the annuloplasty ring between a top piece and a bottom piece; and engaging the top piece and the bottom piece with a haft to clamp the annuloplasty ring between the top and bottom pieces.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas W. Lytle
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:18
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2442; A61F2/2445; A61F2/2448; A61F2/2466
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An annuloplasty ring and holder combination comprising: an annuloplasty ring having an inner diameter comprising a top surface and bottom surface; and a holder comprising a clamp for engaging and retaining said annuloplasty ring, said clamp comprising a top piece comprising a bottom surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of said ring, said bottom surface being finished to grip said ring; a bottom piece comprising a top surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of said ring, said top surface being finished to grip said ring; and a haft coupling said top piece and said bottom piece, said inner diameter of said ring being clamped between said top piece and said bottom piece.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An annuloplasty ring and holder combination comprising: an annuloplasty ring having an inner diameter comprising a top surface and bottom surface; and a holder comprising a clamp for engaging and retaining said annuloplasty ring, said clamp comprising a top piece comprising a bottom surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of said ring, said bottom surface being finished to grip said ring; a bottom piece comprising a top surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of said ring, said top surface being finished to grip said ring; and a haft coupling said top piece and said bottom piece, said inner diameter of said ring being clamped between said top piece and said bottom piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the haft is a VH200 handle.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bottom surface of the top piece and the top surface of the bottom piece is finished with at least one of teeth, spikes, grooves, knurls, and grit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top piece and the bottom piece is sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of an incomplete annuloplasty ring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the top piece and the bottom piece is sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of a complete annuloplasty ring.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom piece includes a post and the top piece includes a slot that mates with the post when the top piece and the bottom piece engage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the haft terminates at one end in a screw, the screw capable of engaging the top and bottom pieces and clamp the annuloplasty ring therebetween.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the screw includes a boss on the end thereof most distal from the haft.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the top piece and the bottom piece include co-aligned apertures through which the screw engages the top piece and the bottom piece.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for holding a flexible annuloplasty ring during implantation, the apparatus comprising: an annuloplasty ring; the annuloplasty ring by an upper piece having a lower surface, a lower piece having an upper surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and grip the annuloplasty ring; and means for manipulating the apparatus, the manipulating means being capable of engaging the clamping and gripping means.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
70 words
An apparatus for holding a flexible annuloplasty ring during implantation, the apparatus comprising: an annuloplasty ring; the annuloplasty ring by an upper piece having a lower surface, a lower piece having an upper surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and grip the annuloplasty ring; and means for manipulating the apparatus, the manipulating means being capable of engaging the clamping and gripping means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the clamping and gripping means includes: the top piece including the bottom surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and finished to grip the annuloplasty ring; and the bottom piece including the top surface sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of the annuloplasty ring and finished to grip the annuloplasty ring.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the bottom surface of the top piece and the top surface of the bottom piece is finished with at least one of teeth, spikes, grooves, gnurls, and grit.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the top piece and the bottom piece is sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of an incomplete annuloplasty ring.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the top piece and the bottom piece is sized to engage substantially all of the inner diameter of a complete annuloplasty ring.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the bottom piece includes a post and the top piece includes a slot that mates with the post when the top piece and the bottom piece engage.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the manipulating means includes a haft capable of engaging the top and bottom pieces to clamp the annuloplasty ring therebetween.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the haft terminates at one end in a screw, the screw capable of engaging the top and bottom pieces and clamp the annuloplasty ring therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the screw includes a boss on the end thereof most distal from the haft.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the top piece and the bottom piece include co-aligned apertures through which the screw engages the top piece and the bottom piece.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of manipulating a flexible annuloplasty ring for implantation, the method comprising: a holder having a upper piece and a lower piece. disposing the annuloplasty ring between the top piece and the bottom piece; and engaging the top piece and the bottom piece with a haft to clamp the annuloplasty ring between the top and bottom pieces.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of manipulating a flexible annuloplasty ring for implantation, the method comprising: a holder having a upper piece and a lower piece. disposing the annuloplasty ring between the top piece and the bottom piece; and engaging the top piece and the bottom piece with a haft to clamp the annuloplasty ring between the top and bottom pieces.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein engaging the top piece and the bottom piece with a haft to clamp the annuloplasty ring between the top and bottom pieces includes: aligning a post on the bottom piece with an aperture in the top piece; and pressing the top and bottom pieces together once the post and aperture are aligned.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein engaging the top piece and the bottom piece with a haft to clamp the annuloplasty ring between the top and bottom pieces includes screwing the haft into co-aligned apertures in the top and bottom pieces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 22 , wherein screwing the haft into co-aligned apertures in the top and bottom pieces includes first snapping a boss at the distal end of the screw through the co-aligned apertures.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 20 , further comprising unscrewing the haft to unclamp the annuloplasty ring.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 20 , further comprising buttonholing the top and bottom piece from out of the annuloplasty ring.
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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) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |