Methods of implanting a cardiac implant with integrated suture fasteners
First Claim
1. A method of securing a cardiac implant to a heart valve annulus, comprises:
- providing a pre-assembled cardiac implant system including an implant defining a flow orifice through which blood will flow when implanted from an inflow side to an outflow side of the implant, the implant including a pliant sealing edge extending outward therefrom having a plurality of generally axial slits that open radially outward, the system further including a plurality of knotless suture fasteners attached to and distributed around the sealing edge, each fastener having an axial slot sized to receive a suture and facing radially outward so as to align with one of the axial slits;
pre-installing a plurality of anchoring sutures at the annulus, each anchoring suture being passed through the annulus with at least one free end extending away from the annulus;
passing each of the free ends of the anchoring sutures radially inward through one of the axial slits in the sealing edge and into the aligned suture fastener slot;
advancing the cardiac implant distally until the sealing edge seats against the annulus; and
deploying the suture fasteners to clamp onto the free ends of the anchoring sutures.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A cardiac implant system including a cardiac implant such as an annuloplasty ring, a prosthetic heart valve, or a valved conduit pre-assembled at the time of manufacture with devices for securing the implant to a heart valve annulus using knotless suture fasteners. The knotless suture fasteners may be embedded within a pliant sealing edge of the cardiac implant, or they may be positioned adjacent to the sealing edge. The knotless suture fasteners are spring-biased so as to grip onto annulus anchoring sutures pass to therethrough upon removal of a restraining device, such as a hypotube inserted within the suture fasteners. Guide tubes are assembled in line with the suture fasteners to permit introduction of suture snares that pass through the suture fasteners and through the sealing edge to facilitate capture of the pre-installed annulus anchoring sutures.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of securing a cardiac implant to a heart valve annulus, comprises:
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providing a pre-assembled cardiac implant system including an implant defining a flow orifice through which blood will flow when implanted from an inflow side to an outflow side of the implant, the implant including a pliant sealing edge extending outward therefrom having a plurality of generally axial slits that open radially outward, the system further including a plurality of knotless suture fasteners attached to and distributed around the sealing edge, each fastener having an axial slot sized to receive a suture and facing radially outward so as to align with one of the axial slits; pre-installing a plurality of anchoring sutures at the annulus, each anchoring suture being passed through the annulus with at least one free end extending away from the annulus; passing each of the free ends of the anchoring sutures radially inward through one of the axial slits in the sealing edge and into the aligned suture fastener slot; advancing the cardiac implant distally until the sealing edge seats against the annulus; and deploying the suture fasteners to clamp onto the free ends of the anchoring sutures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of securing a prosthetic heart valve to a heart valve annulus, comprises:
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providing a pre-assembled prosthetic heart valve system including a prosthetic heart valve defining a flow orifice through which blood will flow when implanted from an inflow side to an outflow side thereof and occluding members that provide one-way flow through the valve, the valve including a pliant sealing ring extending outward therefrom having a plurality of generally axial slits that open radially outward, the system further including a plurality of knotless suture fasteners attached to and distributed around the sealing edge, each fastener having an axial slot sized to receive a suture and facing radially outward so as to align with one of the axial slits; pre-installing a plurality of anchoring sutures at the annulus, each anchoring suture being passed through the annulus with at least one free end extending away from the annulus; passing each of the free ends of the anchoring sutures radially inward through one of the axial slits in the sealing ring and into the aligned suture fastener slot; advancing the valve distally until the sealing ring seats against the annulus; and deploying the suture fasteners to clamp onto the free ends of the anchoring sutures. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification