Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A valve configured for insertion on the proximal and distal sides of a heart valve annulus to replace the heart valve of a patient, the valve comprising: a first substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a first side of the annulus of a patient, the first portion movable from an elongated reduced profile position for insertion to a substantially annular position for placement; a second substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a second side of the annulus of a patient, at least one of the first and second substantially annular portions being movable towards the other portion to a clamped position to clamp around the annulus, the second substantially annular portion having a flow restricting portion extending therefrom and movable between a first position to permit the flow of blood and a second position to restrict the flow of blood, the second portion and flow restricting portion movable from an elongated reduced profile position for insertion to a substantially annular position for placement; the first and second portions being comprised of unitary wire, the unitary wire including an arcuate wire segment extending between the first and second portions, the wire biasing the first and second portions toward each other in the substantially annular position, and the first and second annular portions each circumscribe a segment greater than 360 degrees to form an overlapping segment, and the arcuate wire segment extends along an arc greater than 90 degrees.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A valve configured for insertion on the proximal and distal sides of a heart valve annulus to replace the heart valve of a patient, the valve comprising: a first substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a first side of the annulus of a patient, the first portion movable from an elongated reduced profile position for insertion to a substantially annular position for placement; a second substantially annular portion adapted to be positioned on a second side of the annulus of a patient, at least one of the first and second substantially annular portions being movable towards the other portion to a clamped position to clamp around the annulus, the second substantially annular portion having a flow restricting portion extending therefrom and movable between a first position to permit the flow of blood and a second position to restrict the flow of blood, the second portion and flow restricting portion movable from an elongated reduced profile position for insertion to a substantially annular position for placement; the first and second portions being comprised of unitary wire, the unitary wire including an arcuate wire segment extending between the first and second portions, the wire biasing the first and second portions toward each other in the substantially annular position, and the first and second annular portions each circumscribe a segment greater than 360 degrees to form an overlapping segment, and the arcuate wire segment extends along an arc greater than 90 degrees.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the flow restricting portion comprises a plurality of leaflets extending from the second portion in a direction away from the first portion, the leaflets extending circumferentially around the second portion and foldable inwardly towards a convergence region at the midpoint of the second portion so the convergence region is concentric with the second portion to restrict blood flow.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the flow restricting portion comprises a plurality of leaflets extending from the second portion in a direction away from the first portion, the leaflets extending circumferentially around the second portion and foldable inwardly towards a convergence region offset from a midpoint of the second portion so the convergence region is eccentric with the second portion to restrict blood flow.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the wire is composed of a shape memory alloy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve of claim 4 , wherein the wire has a shape memorized position when the wire is in the substantially annular position for placement.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the first and second portions lie in parallel planes, and the wire segment extends at an angle to the parallel planes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The valve of claim 6 , wherein the wire is composed of a shape memory alloy.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The valve of claim 7 , wherein the wire has a shape memorized position when the wire is in the substantially annular position for placement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the first substantially annular portion underlies a first arcuate portion and the second substantially annular portion overlies a second arcuate portion to form a coil wire of multiple overlapping segments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
74 words
The valve of claim 1 , wherein the flow restricting portion includes a plurality of spaced apart leaflets extending from the second portion in a direction away from the first portion, the leaflets extending circumferentially around the second portion and foldable inwardly to restrict blood flow, the flow restricting portion further including a membrane joining adjacent leaflets to cooperate with the leaflets to restrict blood flow when the leaflets are in the closed position.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The valve of claim 10 , wherein the leaflets have a thicker portion at a portion closer to the second portion and the membrane has a thinner portion at a portion further from the second portion.