MEANS AND METHOD OF REPLACING A HEART VALVE IN A MINIMALLY INVASIVE MANNER
First Claim
1. In combination:
- A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for securely attaching said prosthesis body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient; and
B) a tool for attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on one end of said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, (4) means for releasably mounting said flexible sewing cuff to said tool, and (5) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of said sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heart valve can be replaced using minimally invasive methods which include a sutureless sewing cuff that and a fastener delivery tool that holds the cuff against the patient'"'"'s tissue while delivering fasteners to attach the cuff to the tissue from the inside out. The tool stores a plurality of fasteners and is self-contained whereby a fastener is delivered and placed all from inside a vessel. The fasteners are self-forming whereby they do not need an anvil to be formed. Anchor elements are operated from outside the patient'"'"'s body to cinch a prosthesis to an anchoring cuff of the valve body. The cuff is releasably mounted on the tool and the tool holds the cuff against tissue and drives the fastener through the cuff and the tissue before folding over the legs of the fastener whereby secure securement between the cuff and the tissue is assured. Fasteners are placed and formed whereby fasteners are located continuously throughout the entire circumference of the cuff. A minimally invasive surgical method is disclosed, and a method and tool are disclosed for repairing abdominal aortic aneurysms in a minimally invasive manner. Fasteners that are permanently deformed during the process of attaching the cuff are disclosed as are fasteners that are not permanently deformed during the attaching process.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for securely attaching said prosthesis body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient; and
B) a tool for attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on one end of said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, (4) means for releasably mounting said flexible sewing cuff to said tool, and (5) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of said sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11)
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3. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for attaching said prosthesis body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been placed in a patient; and
B) a tool for placing said flexible sewing cuff in the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, (4) means for releasably mounting said flexible sewing cuff to said tool, and (5) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of said sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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12. In combination:
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A) a heart valve prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve body separate from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for securely attaching said valve body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible swing cuff has been placed in a patient; and
B) a tool for placing said flexible sewing cuff in the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, (4) means for releasably mounting said flexible sewing cuff to said tool, and (5) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of said sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit.
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13. In combination:
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A) a multipart heart valve prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis heart valve body separate from said flexible sewing cuff, (3) means for attaching said heart valve body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been placed in a patient; and
B) a tool for placing said flexible sewing cuff in the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, (4) means for releasably mounting said flexible sewing cuff to said tool, and (5) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit.
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14. In combination:
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A) a heart valve prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for securely attaching said valve body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible swing cuff has been placed in a patient; and
B) a tool for placing said flexible sewing cuff in the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, and (4) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of said sewing cuff and the tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit.
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15. In combination:
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A) a heart valve prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) means for securely attaching said valve body to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible swing cuff has been placed in a patient; and
B) a tool for placing said flexible sewing cuff in the patient in a minimally invasive manner and which includes (1) a housing, (2) an operating handle mounted on said housing, (3) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener having an elastic limit, and (4) a fastener handling means on said housing and operationally connected to said operating handle to be controlled by said operating handle for storing said fastener and securing said fastener through said flexible sewing cuff and into the patient'"'"'s tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient without deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit.
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16. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) said prosthesis valve being securely attached to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient; and
B) a tool for attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient and which includes (1) a housing, (2) at least one fastener stored in said housing in a tissue-penetrating shape and having an elastic limit, and (3) a fastener handling means on said tool for forcing said fastener into the patient from one side of said flexible sewing cuff and the patient'"'"'s tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient and deforming said fastener beyond its elastic limit into a cuff-retaining shape.
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17. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) said prosthesis valve being securely attached to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient; and
B) a tool for attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient and which includes (1) a housing, (2) at least one fastener stored in said housing, said fastener being self-tapping to penetrate the patient'"'"'s tissue when rotated, (3) a fastener handling means on said tool for imparting rotation to said fastener and forcing said fastener into the patient'"'"'s tissue from one side of the patient'"'"'s tissue to attach said flexible sewing cuff to the patient.
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18. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) said prosthesis valve being securely attached to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient; and
B) a tool for attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient and which includes (1) a housing, (2) at least one fastener stored in said housing, and (3) a fastener handling means on said tool for forcing said fastener into the patient from one side of the patient'"'"'s tissue and attaching said flexible sewing cuff to the patient.
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19. In combination:
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A) a multipart prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) said prosthesis valve being securely attached to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient;
B) a fastener for attaching said sewing cuff to the patient from one side of said sewing cuff, said fastener having an elastic limit; and
C) means for forcing said fastener through said sewing cuff and attaching said sewing cuff to the patient without exceeding the elastic limit of said fastener whereby said fastener is non-formed when said sewing cuff is attached to the patient by said fastener.
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20. In combination:
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A) a multipart heart valve prosthesis which includes (1) a flexible sewing cuff, (2) a prosthesis heart valve separate and spaceable from said flexible sewing cuff, and (3) said prosthesis heart valve being securely attached to said flexible sewing cuff after said flexible sewing cuff has been attached to a patient;
B) a fastener for attaching said sewing cuff to the patient from one side of said sewing cuff, said fastener having an elastic limit and an initial shape; and
C) means for forcing said fastener through said sewing cuff and attaching said sewing cuff to the patient without exceeding the elastic limit of said fastener whereby said fastener is non-formed and not permanently deformed from the initial shape when said flexible sewing cuff is attached to the patient by said fastener.
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Specification