Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A prosthetic heart valve comprising: a valve including a plurality of flexible leaflets whose outer edges attach to a support structure having a plurality of axially projecting commissures terminating in tips, the commissures being separated by arcuate cusps, the commissures and tips defining a generally sinusoidal line with the commissures extending in the outflow direction and the cusps extending in the inflow direction; and a suture ring fixedly disposed upon an inflow end of the valve comprising a suturable annulus having upwardly opening depressions on an internal circumference corresponding in number to the number of cusps of the support structure, wherein the suture ring has a bore sized to receive the cusps in the depressions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A prosthetic heart valve comprising: a valve including a plurality of flexible leaflets whose outer edges attach to a support structure having a plurality of axially projecting commissures terminating in tips, the commissures being separated by arcuate cusps, the commissures and tips defining a generally sinusoidal line with the commissures extending in the outflow direction and the cusps extending in the inflow direction; and a suture ring fixedly disposed upon an inflow end of the valve comprising a suturable annulus having upwardly opening depressions on an internal circumference corresponding in number to the number of cusps of the support structure, wherein the suture ring has a bore sized to receive the cusps in the depressions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the suture ring comprises a sponge waffle covered with cloth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
The valve of claim 2 , wherein the sponge waffle comprises an upwardly facing outer ledge and an inner lip projecting up from the ledge in which the depressions are formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The valve of claim 3 , further comprising a ring washer sized to closely surround the lip and rest on the ledge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The valve of claim 4 , further comprising a single cloth covering surrounding the sponge waffle, and folded around external surfaces of the ring washer and tucked between the ring washer and the sponge waffle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve of claim 4 , further comprising a cloth covering surrounding the sponge waffle and extending between the ring washer and the sponge waffle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the suture ring comprises a sponge waffle in combination with a non-woven polyester ring washer, and a cloth covering, to form a stable suture ring which functions as a compliant, stitchable interface between the natural tissues of the heart and the prosthetic heart valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the suture ring comprises a compliant internal structure and a cloth covering, and the cloth covering is secured to the contour of the depressions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of flexible leaflets includes: a tissue leaflet subassembly attached within the support stucture and formed by a plurality of substantially identical tissue leaflets, each of the leaflets having a coapting mating edge having opposing ends and a generally arcuate peripheral cusp extending therebetween coupled to one of the support stucture cusps.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
87 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the support structure comprises: an annular wireform having a plurality of axially projecting outflow commissures terminating in arcuate tips, the commissures being separated by arcuate cusps having a substantially larger radius of curvature than the tips, the commissures and tips being formed in a sinusoidal configuration with the commissures extending in the opposite axial direction from the cusps so that each commissure is defined by spaced apart portions of the wireform in adjacent cusps joined by one of the tips.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
The valve of claim 10 , wherein the support structure further comprises: a generally cylindrical support stent having an upper edge defining a plurality of upwardly projecting flexible posts and arcs therebetween adapted to conform and attach to the wireform commissures and arcuate cusps; and a cloth covering sewn over the stent such that the cloth covering encloses the support structure and substantially conforms to the shape of the support structure.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stent of claim 11 wherein the cloth covering comprises a sewing edge formed by folding and stitching together portions of the cloth covering at the upper edge of the support structure.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The stent of claim 12 , wherein the sewing edge extends along the entire upper edge, including over the flexible posts.