Connector ring clamp and associated methods of use

• US 10,245,360 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 04/02/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Heartware,Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Andrus, Lance Lynn, Castillo, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Voorhees, Catherine
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dinga, Roland
• Application Number:
  US14/741,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20150359952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: 600 16
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/216 including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/859 Connections therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/861 Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/863 Apex rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/865 Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a connector ring assembly to attach a VAD to a heart. The assembly includes a clamp which can rotate completely about the annular wall in a first state and is fixed relative to the annular wall in a second state. The clamp transitions from the first state to the second state via an actuator. The actuator can be configured with an axis of rotation generally parallel to the opening of the annular wall, thereby allowing manipulation of the actuator through the same surgical accessway as that used to implant the connector ring assembly. At least one embodiment provides a connector flange separately from an annular wall to provide greater access to the connector flange during implantation. The annular wall and clamp are attached to the connector flange after the flange is fixed to the heart.

Claims

1. A connector ring assembly comprising:

an annular wall defining a first opening adapted to receive a conduit, the first opening having an opening axis;

a clamp having a body and a first arm and a second arm coupled to each other by the body, the first arm and the second arm defining a distance therebetween extending away from body and entirely along the first arm and the second arm, the clamp engaging the annular wall and defining a second opening co-axial with the first opening, the clamp operably configured to rotate relative to the annular wall in a first state and remain fixed relative to the annular wall in a second state, and the distance between the first arm and second arm in the first state being greater than the distance between the first arm and second arm in the second state;

an actuator disposed substantially parallel with respect to the annular wall and the clamp, the actuator adapted to transition the clamp between the first state and the second state; and

an actuator receiver defining an actuator opening including the actuator disposed therein, the actuator opening having an actuator axis generally parallel to the opening axis.

2. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator axis is offset from the opening axis.

3. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first and second arms overlap.

4. The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm form a unitary member which includes a flexible band.

5. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second opening defined by the clamp body in the first state is larger than an outer diameter of the annular wall and the clamp body bears on the outer diameter of the annular wall in the second state.

6. The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein:

the actuator receiver is a spanning member adapted to receive the actuator and coupled to one of the first arm and the second arm and extending past the other of the first arm and the second arm.

7. The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator further comprises a cam rotatable about the actuator axis and rotation of the cam urges at least one of the first arm and the second arm toward the other of the first arm and the second arm.

8. The connector ring assembly of claim 7, wherein the actuator is threadingly engaged with the clamp body for movement along the actuator axis upon rotation of the cam about the actuator axis.

9. The connector ring assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator has a sloping cam surface.

10. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising an interface on the actuator configured to engage a tool by relative motion of the tool and the actuator along the actuator axis.

11. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular wall comprises at least one relief cut extending from a proximal side of the annular wall toward a distal side of the annular wall.

12. The connector ring assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one relief cut has a first width when the clamp is in the first state and has a second width smaller than the first width when the clamp is in the second state.

13. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a brake separate from the clamp body and adapted to be moved by the actuator to transition the clamp from the first state to the second state.

14. The connector ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable cam, and rotation of the cam moves the brake relative to the body to reduce the diameter of the second opening.

15. The connector ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the body comprises first and second portions connected by at least one hinge.

16. The connector ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gimbal adapted to be placed within the first opening to receive a conduit at a plurality of angles relative to the opening axis.