Expandable annuloplasty ring

• US 20010021874A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alain Carpentier, Alexandre Carpentier
• Original Assignee: Alain Carpentier, Alexandre Carpentier
• Inventors: Carpentier, Alexandre, Carpentier, Alain
• Granted Patent: US 6,391,054 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth

Abstract

An expandable annuloplasty ring which may either expand spontaneously, in situ, as the patient grows or be expanded by surgical intervention by balloon dilatation. The distensible annuloplasty ring of the invention may be usable in pediatric patients whose growth, subsequent to surgical implantation of the ring, will necessitate subsequent enlargement of the ring to accommodate growth of the annulus. The ring may include a solid core of non-elastic material which plastically retains its shape upon natural expansion of the annulus, or after surgical expansion. A discontinuity may be positioned along the anterior side of the ring or around the posterior side.

Claims

1. An expandable annuloplasty ring for implantation in a heart valve annulus, comprising:

a ring segment defining a periphery of the ring discontinuous at a single location, the ring segment being formed of a non-elastic material which is capable of deformation and shape retention thereafter from expansion forces; and

a radially expandable fabric covering surrounding the ring segment to enable attachment to the annulus.

2. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the non-elastic material is a material which exhibits plastic deformation properties and creeps over time.

3. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the non-elastic material is a polyacetal.

4. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the single location is positioned in a more stable area of lower growth of the heart valve annulus.

5. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 4

, wherein the ring is generally D-shaped with a straight side, and the single location is in the straight side.

6. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 5

, wherein the single location is in the middle of the straight side.

7. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 5

, wherein the single location is offset from the middle of the straight side.

8. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the single location is formed by a break in the ring periphery, so that the ring is open.

9. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the single location is formed by a section of the ring that is relatively weaker than the remaining section.

10. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein the fabric covering has a longitudinal seam.

11. The annuloplasty ring of

claim 1

, wherein there is no inner stiffening portion in the ring segment such that the ring has sufficient pliability to spontaneously expand on growth of the annulus, and sufficient plasticity to retain the expanded shape and provide adequate support for the developing annulus.