Implantable cardiac prosthesis for mitigating prolapse of a heart valve
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
- a generally arcuate base portion having a central axis; and
a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion, the buttress having at least a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the second surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, whereby the buttress permits flow of blood adjacent the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus helps improve operation of a heart valve. The apparatus includes an arcuate base portion having a central axis and a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion. The buttress has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The second surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The buttress permits flow of blood adjacent both the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a generally arcuate base portion having a central axis; and
a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion, the buttress having at least a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the second surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, whereby the buttress permits flow of blood adjacent the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a base portion having a central axis; and
a buttress extending axially from the base portion relative to the base portion, the buttress having a surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the buttress permitting flow of blood adjacent the surface of the buttress when the leaflet is not engaging the buttress, the buttress having a base and an axially opposite distal end, the base having a width, the distal end having a width less than the width of the base, the surface extending between the base and the distal end, the surface including an arcuate lip portion adjacent the base. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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means for mounting to at least a portion of an annulus of the heart valve;
means extending from the mounting means for mitigating prolapse of at least two leaflets of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted at the annulus of the heart valve, the means extending from the mounting means permitting flow of blood along at least two generally opposed surfaces of the means extending from the mounting means when the at least two leaflets are not engaging the means extending from the mounting means. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification