Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for implanting a heart valve anchor in a heart annulus comprising the steps of: selecting an anchor device for receipt through said annulus including spaced apart ring elements shiftable axially relative to one another from recessed to deployed positions and a retainer retained between said ring elements operable upon said ring elements being shifted from a retainer recessed position to a retainer deployed position projecting radially outwardly; accessing an artery of said patient and inserting said anchor device therethrough to position it in said annulus; and shifting said ring elements axially relative to one another to said deployed position by rotating them relative to one another to shift said retainer to said retainer deployed position.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method for implanting a heart valve anchor in a heart annulus comprising the steps of: selecting an anchor device for receipt through said annulus including spaced apart ring elements shiftable axially relative to one another from recessed to deployed positions and a retainer retained between said ring elements operable upon said ring elements being shifted from a retainer recessed position to a retainer deployed position projecting radially outwardly; accessing an artery of said patient and inserting said anchor device therethrough to position it in said annulus; and shifting said ring elements axially relative to one another to said deployed position by rotating them relative to one another to shift said retainer to said retainer deployed position.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for implanting a heart valve anchor in a heart annulus comprising the steps of: selecting an anchor device for receipt through said annulus including spaced apart ring elements threaded to one another and shiftable axially relative to one another from recessed to deployed positions and a retainer retained between said ring elements operable upon said ring elements being shifted from a retainer recessed position to a retainer deployed position projecting radially outwardly; accessing an artery of said patient and inserting said anchor device therethrough to position it in said annulus; and shifting said ring elements axially relative to one another to said deployed position by rotating said ring elements relative to one another to shift them axially relative to one another to shift said retainer to said retainer deployed position.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for implanting a heart valve anchor in a heart annulus comprising the steps of: selecting an anchor device for receipt through said annulus including spaced apart ring elements threaded to one another and shiftable axially relative to one another from recessed to deployed positions and a retainer retained between said ring elements operable upon said ring elements being shifted from a retainer recessed position to a retainer deployed position projecting radially outwardly; accessing an artery of said patient and inserting said anchor device therethrough to position it in said annulus; and shifting said ring elements axially relative to one another to said deployed position by rotating said ring elements relative to one another to shift them axially relative to one another to shift said retainer to said retainer deployed position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method for implanting a heart valve anchor as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , wherein: said step of selecting said anchor device includes selecting said anchor device to include a radially outwardly projecting stop ring on a proximal end thereof, and said step of inserting said anchor device includes inserting it sufficiently far to position said stop ring on a proximal side of said annulus.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method for implanting a heart valve anchor as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , that further includes the steps of: after shifting said retainer to said retainer deployed position, shifting said ring elements to said recessed position to shift said retainer from said retainer deployed position to said retainer recessed position.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for implanting a heart valve anchor as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , that further includes the step of: imbedding said retainer in said annulus.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The method for implanting a heart valve anchor as set forth in claim 1 or 2 , wherein: said step of inserting said device includes selecting an elongated introduction tool having a semi-rigid tubular tool housing and an elongated deployment rod projecting therethrough and coupling the distal end of said tool housing with one of said ring elements and the distal extremity of the other ring element with the other of said ring elements.