SURGICAL INSTRUMENT FOR IMPLANTING A PROSTHETIC HEART VALVE OR THE LIKE

• US 3,628,535 A
• Filed: 11/12/1969
• Issued: 12/21/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ethyl Molded Products Company
• Original Assignee: Aaron R. Best, Bart T. Heffernan, Ostrowsky Efrem
• Inventors: OSTROWSKY EFREM, Heffernan, Bart T., Best, Aaron R.
• Application Number:
  US04/875,989
• Time in Patent Office: 769 Days
• US Class Current: 604/303
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 50/20 Holders specially adapted for surgical or diagnostic appliances or instruments drapes with means to hold surgical instruments A61B46/23; for catheters A61M25/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation

Abstract

A valve insertion unit for holding a heart valve or like prosthetic device to be inserted within the body, for engaging and spreading an expansible valve-receiving ring previously implanted in the body, for moving the valve into position within the ring, releasing the ring over the valve and releasing the valve from the holder. The valve holder is normally biased opened, fingers are used to spread the ring and are biased to a normally closely spaced-apart position, and movement of the holder along the fingers while portions of the holder engage the fingers expands the ring. When the holder, in an extreme axial position of travel, leaves the ends of the fingers, the ring automatically snaps into position to hold the valve in place within the body and the valve holder releases it grip on the valve so the entire instrument may be removed from the body.

Claims

1. A surgical instrument for use in inserting a prosthetic device in a desired position of use at least partially within an expansible retaining ring, said instrument comprising in combination, means for engaging said ring on the interior thereof and for spreading said ring apart upon radially outward movement of said engaging means, means for receiving a valve for insertion within said ring, said receiving means being normally biased to an open position for release of a valve held therein and being adapted to hold a valve therein in a closed position thereof, means associated with said receiving means for expanding said ring-spreading means by engagement therewith while said valve is held within said receiving means, said receiving means and said spreading means being arranged so that said valve may be moved by said receiving means into a position of engagement with said ring, and further movement of said receiving means removes said ring from said engaging means and allows release of said spreading means from said engaging means, whereby said valve may be released from said receiving means upon engagement of said valve with said ring.

2. An instrument as defined in claim 1 in which said receiving means comprises a split ring having an annular groove therein for receiving a portion of said valve.

3. An instrument as defined in claim 1 in which said receiving means comprises a ring having a groove therein for receiving said valve and said spreading means comprises a plurality of openings in said receiving means engagement with said engaging means, whereby said engaging means are positioned so as to be in diametral registry with said spreading means as said receiving means is moved along said engaging means.

4. An instrument as defined in claim 1 in which said engaging means comprises a plurality of stifF but resilient fingers attached to a frame element, said fingers being biased toward a closely spaced-apart position at the ends thereof opposite the ends thereof which are received by said frame.

5. An instrument as defined in claim 1 in which said engaging means comprises a plurality of fingers mounted in a frame and extending axially therefrom, said receiving means comprises a split collar having an annular groove therein for receiving a valve, and in which said receiving means includes a plurality of openings therein for engaging said fingers, and in which said receiving means includes a pair of stiff but resilient fingers biasing said split collar to an open position thereof, whereby said first-mentioned fingers are urged apart by axial movement of said receiving means and whereby engagement of said first-mentioned fingers with said receiving means retains said receiving means in a closed position thereof as long as said openings are engaged with said fingers.

6. A surgical tool for use in inserting a prosthetic device in a desired position of use at least partially within an expansible retaining ring comprising, in combination, a ring spreader assembly including a ring spreader frame unit, a plurality of spaced apart, elongated flexible ring-spreading fingers attached at the proximate ends thereof to said frame unit and being biased toward and closely spaced apart from one another at the remote ends thereof for entry into the center of said expansible ring, a valve holder assembly including a frame unit, a plurality of spaced apart, elongated means for supporting a valve holder unit, said means being joined at the proximate ends thereof to said valve holder frame unit and being inherently biased apart from each other at the remote ends thereof, a valve holder unit adapted to receive and hold a valve therein when in a closed position, and to release said valve when in an open position thereof, said supporting means being attached at their remote ends to portions of said valve holder unit, said valve holder assembly and said ring-spreader assembly being freely axially movable in relation to each other, and means on said valve holder unit for spreadingly engaging said fingers in one axial position of said holder and for releasing said valve holder in another axial position of said holder, whereby, during axial movement of said valve holder along said fingers, engagement between said holder unit and said fingers spreads said fingers apart to expand said expansible ring engaged by said remote ends of said fingers to allow insertion of said valve unit through said ring in an expanded condition of said ring, and upon further axial movement, said ring is engaged by said valve, and removed axially from the ends of said fingers, whereupon said valve holder is released from said fingers and allowed to open for release of said valve therefrom.