Expandable surgical heart valve indicators
First Claim
1. A prosthetic heart valve having a labeled valve size, comprising:
- an internal support frame defining a flow orifice therethrough, wherein the internal support frame is expandable;
a plurality of flexible leaflets attached to the support frame and extending across the flow orifice and coming together within the orifice to define one-way flow therethrough from an inflow end to an outflow end of the valve; and
a valve-size indicator on the heart valve that denotes the labeled valve size and signifies the capability of the support frame for expansion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic heart valve configured to replace a native heart valve and for post-implant expansion and having a valve-type indicator thereon visible from outside the body post-implant. The indicator communicates information about the valve, such as the size or orifice diameter of the valve, and/or that the valve has the capacity for post-implant expansion. The indicator can be an alphanumeric symbol or other symbol or combination of symbols that represent information about the characteristics of the valve such as the valve size. The capacity for post-implant expansion facilitates a valve-in-valve procedure, where the valve-type indicator conveys information to the surgeon about whether the implanted valve is suitable for the procedure and informs the choice of the secondary valve.
346 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A prosthetic heart valve having a labeled valve size, comprising:
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an internal support frame defining a flow orifice therethrough, wherein the internal support frame is expandable; a plurality of flexible leaflets attached to the support frame and extending across the flow orifice and coming together within the orifice to define one-way flow therethrough from an inflow end to an outflow end of the valve; and a valve-size indicator on the heart valve that denotes the labeled valve size and signifies the capability of the support frame for expansion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A prosthetic heart valve having a labeled valve size, comprising:
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an internal support frame defining a flow orifice therethrough; a plurality of flexible leaflets attached to the support frame and extending across the flow orifice and coming together within the orifice to ensure one-way flow therethrough from an inflow end to an outflow end of the valve; and a valve-size indicator comprising at least one feature located on the internal support frame, at least a portion of the indicator having a radiopacity different from the radiopacity of the internal support frame, the indicator being visible using an external imager wherein, and the indicator denotes the labeled valve size. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification