Convertible annuloplasty ring configured to receive an expandable prosthetic heart valve
First Claim
1. An annuloplasty ring, comprising:
- an annuloplasty support frame consisting of a single contiguous segment defining a circumferential shape surrounding a ring opening as seen when view from above, wherein the annuloplasty support frame is configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration only upon being subjected to a radially expansive force in vivo of at least 2 atm, and wherein in the first configuration the ring opening is “
D”
-shaped and in the second configuration the ring opening is more circular than the “
D-shaped”
first configuration, and wherein the annuloplasty support frame remains in the first configuration prior to being subjected to the radially expansive force and a transition from the first configuration to the second configuration occurs suddenly.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a cardiac implant, and associated methods therefore, configured to repair and/or replace a native heart valve, and having a support frame configured to be reshaped into an expanded/changed form in order to receive and/or support an expandable prosthetic heart valve therein. The implant may be configured to have a generally rigid and/or expansion-resistant configuration when initially implanted to replace/repair a native valve (or other prosthetic heart valve), but to assume a generally non-rigid and/or expanded/expandable form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon. The implant may be configured to have a generally D-shaped configuration when initially implanted, but to assume a generally circular form when subjected to an outward force such as that provided by a dilation balloon.
138 Citations
13 Claims
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1. An annuloplasty ring, comprising:
an annuloplasty support frame consisting of a single contiguous segment defining a circumferential shape surrounding a ring opening as seen when view from above, wherein the annuloplasty support frame is configured to transition from a first configuration to a second configuration only upon being subjected to a radially expansive force in vivo of at least 2 atm, and wherein in the first configuration the ring opening is “
D”
-shaped and in the second configuration the ring opening is more circular than the “
D-shaped”
first configuration, and wherein the annuloplasty support frame remains in the first configuration prior to being subjected to the radially expansive force and a transition from the first configuration to the second configuration occurs suddenly.- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
Specification