US6673009B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Adjustment clamp
Assignee: Mardil Inc
•
Filing: 2000-11-08
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Granted: 2004-01-06
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Expires: 2020-11-08
Abstract
Abstract An adjustment clamp suitable for adjusting the tension of a material such as a cardiac support device. The adjustment clamp comprises a pair of interconnected, intersecting arms capable of rotating around a common axis. The arms each comprise a handle, a jaw and a shaft between the handle and jaw. The clamp also includes a latch operably mounted to the handle, wherein the latches of the two arms are capable of engaging each other to secure the clamp at a desired position. In one embodiment, the jaw comprises a flat contact surface. In another embodiment, at least one jaw of one arm comprises a roller assembly. Preferably, the clamp also includes a turning mechanism operably mounted to at least one roller assembly. Methods for using the adjustment claim to increase tension in a material are also described. In a preferred embodiment, the clamp is used to adjust the tension of a cardiac support device.
Inventors
- 👤 John C. Vanden Hoek
- 👤 Jody Rivers
- 👤 James Edgard Cox
- 👤 Craig Robert Schlawin
- 👤 J. Edward Shapland
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:54
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2481; A61F2002/2484
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
105 words
A clamp for tensioning a cardiac support device, said cardiac support device configured for treating cardiac disease of a heart having a left diastolic ventricular pressure, said clamp comprising: a first and a second intersecting arm wherein each arm comprises: a handle comprising a latching mechanism; a jaw comprising a contact surface; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw, wherein said latching mechanism is configured to bias said contact surfaces of said jaws together at a clamping force that is less than the left diastolic ventricular pressure of said heart and wherein at least one jaw of said clamp comprises a roller assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
105 words
A clamp for tensioning a cardiac support device, said cardiac support device configured for treating cardiac disease of a heart having a left diastolic ventricular pressure, said clamp comprising: a first and a second intersecting arm wherein each arm comprises: a handle comprising a latching mechanism; a jaw comprising a contact surface; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw, wherein said latching mechanism is configured to bias said contact surfaces of said jaws together at a clamping force that is less than the left diastolic ventricular pressure of said heart and wherein at least one jaw of said clamp comprises a roller assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
A clamp comprising: a first and a second intersecting arm wherein each arm comprises: a handle; a jaw, wherein said jaw has a longitudinal axis, and at least one jaw of said clamp comprises a roller assembly comprising at least one roller, wherein said roller is rotatable around an axis that is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said jaw; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw; and a turning mechanism operably mounted to at least one roller assembly.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
81 words
A clamp comprising: a first and a second intersecting arm wherein each arm comprises: a handle; a jaw, wherein said jaw has a longitudinal axis, and at least one jaw of said clamp comprises a roller assembly comprising at least one roller, wherein said roller is rotatable around an axis that is aligned with said longitudinal axis of said jaw; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw; and a turning mechanism operably mounted to at least one roller assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said handle further comprises a finger loop.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
48 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein each handle further comprises a latch mounted to an inferior surface of said handle wherein said latch of said first arm directly opposes said latch of said second arm when said arms of said clamp are rotated towards each other.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 4 , wherein said latch comprises a latching surface with a plurality of latching teeth.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said roller assembly comprises at least one roller.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 6 , wherein said roller is operably mounted to a frame.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 6 , wherein said roller comprises an axle, said axle comprising said arm of said clamp.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said roller assembly comprises a plurality of rollers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 6 , wherein said roller comprises a contact surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 10 , wherein said contact surface is compliant.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 10 , wherein said contact surface comprises silica tubing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 10 , wherein said contact surface is textured.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device according to claim 13 , wherein said contact surface is serrated or ribbed.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said turning mechanism comprises a control lever capable of being manually or automatically rotated.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said turning mechanism is operably connected to one roller assembly.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said roller assembly is substantially linear.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device according to claim 2 , wherein said roller assembly is non-linear.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device according to claim 18 , wherein said roller assembly comprises a plurality of operably connected rollers.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for increasing tension in a material, comprising: providing a clamp, said clamp comprising: a first and a second arm, said arms intersecting at a common axis, wherein each arm comprises: a handle; a jaw, wherein said jaw comprises a contact surface; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw; rotating said handles in a plane around said common axis to open said jaw; positioning said material between said contact surfaces of said jaws; frictionally engaging said material with said contact surfaces of said jaw; and urging said material through said jaws of said clamp in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plane of rotation, and wherein said jaw of at least one arm comprises a roller assembly and a turning mechanism and said turning mechanism is employed to rotate at least one roller, thereby urging said material between said rollers.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
143 words
A method for increasing tension in a material, comprising: providing a clamp, said clamp comprising: a first and a second arm, said arms intersecting at a common axis, wherein each arm comprises: a handle; a jaw, wherein said jaw comprises a contact surface; and a shaft connecting said handle and said jaw; rotating said handles in a plane around said common axis to open said jaw; positioning said material between said contact surfaces of said jaws; frictionally engaging said material with said contact surfaces of said jaw; and urging said material through said jaws of said clamp in a direction substantially perpendicular to said plane of rotation, and wherein said jaw of at least one arm comprises a roller assembly and a turning mechanism and said turning mechanism is employed to rotate at least one roller, thereby urging said material between said rollers.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 1 , further comprising a step of cutting said material along said clamp and suturing said material once a desired tension of said material has been obtained.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1 , wherein said material comprises a cardiac support device.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
117 words
A method according to claim 22 , wherein said cardiac support device is positioned on a heart having a longitudinal axis from an apex to a base and ventricular lower extremities adjacent said apex, said cardiac support device comprising: a jacket of flexible material of knit construction defining a volume between an open upper end and a lower end, said jacket dimensioned for said apex of said heart to be inserted into said volume through said open upper end and for said jacket to be slipped over said heart, said jacket further dimensioned for said jacket to have a longitudinal dimension between said upper and lower ends sufficient for said jacket to constrain said ventricular lower extremities.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 23 , further comprising a step of positioning a first end of said jaws, proximate said common axis, proximate said apex of said heart.
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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) | 2007-01-05 | 2007-07-07 | 2008-01-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-01-05 | 2011-07-07 | 2012-01-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-01-05 | 2015-07-07 | 2016-01-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |