Apparatus for testing prosthetic heart valves, and methods of using same
First Claim
1. A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus, comprising:
- a test chamber;
a slide plate slidingly coupled to said test chamber, said slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in said test chamber;
a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in said test chamber; and
a load/unload means for transferring at least one of said heart valves in said storage member between said storage member and said slide plate.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a test chamber, a slide plate slidingly and sealingly coupled to the test chamber, the slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in the test chamber, a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in the test chamber, and a load/unload means for transferring at least one of the heart valves in the storage member between the storage member and the slide plate. A method disclosed herein comprises positioning the storage member in a first position, moving a first heart valve from the storage member in the first position to the test chamber, performing at least one test on the first heart valve in the test chamber, and returning the first heart valve from the test chamber to the storage member. The method further comprises moving the storage member to a second position to position a second of the plurality of heart valves for removal from the storage member, moving the second heart valve from the storage member to the test chamber, performing at least one test on the second heart valve in the test chamber, and returning the second heart valve to the storage member.
28 Citations
50 Claims
-
1. A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus, comprising:
-
a test chamber;
a slide plate slidingly coupled to said test chamber, said slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in said test chamber;
a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in said test chamber; and
a load/unload means for transferring at least one of said heart valves in said storage member between said storage member and said slide plate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus, comprising:
-
a test chamber;
a slide plate slidingly coupled to said test chamber, said slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in said test chamber;
a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in said test chamber;
a load/unload means for transferring at least one of said heart valves in said storage member between said storage member and said slide plate;
a means for moving said slide plate relative to said test chamber to allow positioning of a prosthetic heart valve in said test chamber; and
a means for rotating a heart valve positioned in said slide plate. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
-
-
26. A prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus, comprising:
-
a test chamber;
a slide plate slidingly coupled to said test chamber, said slide plate having an opening formed therein that is adapted to receive a prosthetic heart valve to be tested in said test chamber;
a storage member containing a plurality of prosthetic heart valves to be tested in said test chamber;
first and second cylinders, each of which have end portions that are adapted to engage a heart valve holder positioned in an opening in said storage member, said heart valve holder having a prosthetic heart valve positioned therein, said first and second cylinders further adapted to remove said heart valve holder and heart valve from said storage member and position said heart valve holder and heart valve in an opening in said slide plate; and
a third cylinder coupled to said slide plate, said third cylinder adapted to move said slide plate relative to said test chamber to thereby position said heart valve in said slide plate in said test chamber. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
-
-
37. A heart valve testing apparatus, comprising:
-
a test chamber, said test chamber having a heart valve positioned therein for testing;
a compliance chamber and a pinch valve in fluid communication with a portion of said chamber on an outflow side of said heart valve;
a pump for circulating a test fluid through said test chamber, said heart valve, said compliance chamber and said pinch valve;
a computer for controlling said pinch valve to regulate the flow of said test fluid through said pinch valve to thereby assist in controlling a pressure in said test chamber on said outflow side of said heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method of testing prosthetic heart valves, comprising:
-
providing a prosthetic heart valve testing apparatus, said apparatus comprised of a test chamber and a storage member, said storage member having a plurality of prosthetic heart valves stored therein;
positioning said storage member in a first position;
moving a first heart valve from said storage member in said first position to said test chamber;
performing at least one test on said first heart valve in said test chamber;
returning said first heart valve from said test chamber to said storage member;
moving said storage member to a second position to position a second of said plurality of heart valves for removal from said storage member;
moving said second heart valve from said storage member to said test chamber;
performing at least one test on said second heart valve in said test chamber; and
returning said second heart valve to said storage member. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
-
Specification