Patent US6537198B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6537198B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Splint assembly for improving cardiac function in hearts, and method for implanting the splint assembly
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC
•
Filing: 2000-03-21
•
Granted: 2003-03-25
•
Expires: 2020-03-21
Abstract
Abstract A splint assembly for placement transverse a heart chamber to reduce the heart chamber radius and improve cardiac function has a tension member formed of a braided cable with a covering. A fixed anchor assembly is attached to one end of the tension member and a leader for penetrating a heart wall and guiding the tension member through the heart is attached to the other end. An adjustable anchor assembly can be secured onto the tension member opposite to the side on which the fixed pad assembly is attached. The adjustable anchor assembly can be positioned along the tension member so as to adjust the length of the tension member extending between the fixed and adjustable anchor assemblies. The pad assemblies engage with the outside of the heart wall to hold the tension member in place transverse the heart chamber. A probe and marker delivery device is used to identify locations on the heart wall to place the splint assembly such that it will not interfere with internal heart structures. The device delivers a marker to these locations on the heart wall for both visual and tactile identification during implantation of the splint assembly in the heart.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert M. Vidlund
- 👤 Thomas M. Paulson
- 👤 Todd J. Mortier
- 👤 Cyril J. Schweich, Jr.
- 👤 Richard F. Schroeder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:38
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2487; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/064; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/0404; A61B2017/0412; A61B2017/0427; A61B2017/0437; A61B2017/0464; A61B17/0469; A61B2017/048; A61B2017/0496; A61B90/00; A61B90/39
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for improving cardiac function, comprising: an elongate member configured to extend transverse a heart chamber, said elongate member being made of a plurality of filaments in the form of bundles and so that the elongate member has a diameter of approximately 0.030 inches to approximately 0.080 inches; a first heart-engaging assembly attached to one end of the elonate member and configured to engage a first exterior location of a heart wall; and a second heart-engaging assembly configured to be secured onto the elongate member and to engage a second exterior location of the heart wall, wherein the elongate member includes a cable of braided bundles of filaments.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
109 words
An apparatus for improving cardiac function, comprising: an elongate member configured to extend transverse a heart chamber, said elongate member being made of a plurality of filaments in the form of bundles and so that the elongate member has a diameter of approximately 0.030 inches to approximately 0.080 inches; a first heart-engaging assembly attached to one end of the elonate member and configured to engage a first exterior location of a heart wall; and a second heart-engaging assembly configured to be secured onto the elongate member and to engage a second exterior location of the heart wall, wherein the elongate member includes a cable of braided bundles of filaments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second heart-engaging assembly is configured to be slidably positioned along the elongate member prior to securement to the elongate member such that a length of the elongate member between the first and second heart-engaging assemblies can be adjusted during placement of the elongate member transverse the heart chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each bundle is 180 denier.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is made of approximately 1600 filaments.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member has a diameter of approximately 0.55 inches.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the braided cable has approximately 20 to 50 picks/inch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the braided cable has approximately 30 picks/inch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is a cable of approximately 32 braided bundles of approximately 50 filaments.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the 32 braided bundles comprise 16 two-ply bundles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filaments are made of ultra high weight polyethylene.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member includes a covering over the cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the covering is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the elongate member is made of biostable material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the filaments are made of a material chosen from polyesters and liquid crystal polymers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second heart-engaging assemblies is made of a rigid thermoplastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the second heart-engaging assembly includes a staple configured to secure the second heart-engaging assembly to the elongate member.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for improving cardiac function, comprising: an elongate member configured to extend transverse a heart chamber, said elongate member being made of approximately 1600 filaments; a first heart-engaging assembly attached to one end of the elongate member and configured to engage a first exterior location of a heart wall; and a second heart-engaging assembly configured to be secured onto the elongate member and to engage a second exterior location of the heart wall.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for improving cardiac function, comprising: an elongate member configured to extend transverse a heart chamber, said elongate member being made of approximately 1600 filaments; a first heart-engaging assembly attached to one end of the elongate member and configured to engage a first exterior location of a heart wall; and a second heart-engaging assembly configured to be secured onto the elongate member and to engage a second exterior location of the heart wall.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the elongate member has a diameter ranging from approximately 0.030 inches to approximately 0.080 inches.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the elongate member has a diameter of approximately 0.055 inches.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
56 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the second heart-engaging assembly is configured to be slidably positioned along the elongate member prior to securement to the elongate member such that a length of the elongate member between the first and second heart-engaging assemblies can be adjusted during placement of the elongate member transverse the heart chamber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the elongate member includes a cable of braided bundles of the filaments.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus of claim 21 , wherein the braided cable has approximately 20 picks/inch to approximately 50 picks/inch.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the elongate member includes a covering over the cable.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 23 , wherein the covering is made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the filaments are made of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4192293A
Cited
US4261342A
Cited
US4372293A
Cited
US4409974A
Cited
US4536893A
Cited
US5496305A
Cited
US4690134A
Cited
US4705040A
Cited
USRE34021E
Cited
DE3614292C1
Cited
US4936857A
Cited
EP0583012B1
Cited
US4960424A
Cited
US4944753A
Cited
US5104407A
Cited
US5104407B1
Cited
US6283993B1
Cited
US5106386A
Cited
US4997431A
Cited
US5131905A
Cited
US5169381A
Cited
US5584803A
Cited
US5984857A
Cited
US5192314A
Cited
US5250049A
Cited
US5758663A
Cited
DE4234127C2
Cited
US5718725A
Cited
US5814097A
Cited
US5284488A
Cited
US6125852A
Cited
US5571215A
Cited
US6079414A
Cited
US5855614A
Cited
US5682906A
Cited
US5452733A
Cited
US5972030A
Cited
US5665092A
Cited
US20010041821A1
Cited
US6258021B1
Cited
US5800334A
Cited
US5533958A
Cited
US5971911A
Cited
US5385528A
Cited
US5450860A
Cited
US5458574A
Cited
US5509428A
Cited
US6217610B1
Cited
US5593424A
Cited
US5433727A
Cited
US5972022A
Cited
US5865791A
Cited
US5849005A
Cited
US6224540B1
Cited
US5800528A
Cited
US6206820B1
Cited
US6221103B1
Cited
US20020007216A1
Cited
US5957977A
Cited
US20010003986A1
Cited
US6182664B1
Cited
US6024756A
Cited
US6117159A
Cited
US5855601A
Cited
US5755783A
Cited
US6143025A
Cited
US6197053B1
Cited
US5800531A
Cited
US6126590A
Cited
US5702343A
Cited
US6165121A
Cited
US6165122A
Cited
US6077218A
Cited
US5971910A
Cited
DE29619294U1
Cited
US6071303A
Cited
US6165120A
Cited
US6050936A
Cited
US5961440A
Cited
US6261222B1
Cited
US6162168A
Cited
US6045497A
Cited
US6059715A
Cited
US6165119A
Cited
US6332863B1
Cited
US5928281A
Cited
US6102944A
Cited
US5961549A
Cited
US6245105B1
Cited
US6269819B1
Cited
US6238334B1
Cited
US6332893B1
Cited
US6001126A
Cited
US6314322B1
Cited
US6190408B1
Cited
US5902229A
Cited
US6095968A
Cited
US6110100A
Cited
US6221104B1
Cited
US6024096A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-03-24 | 2006-09-23 | 2007-03-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-03-24 | 2010-09-23 | 2011-03-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-03-24 | 2014-09-23 | 2015-03-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |