Device for testing heart valve prostheses
First Claim
1. In a system for hydrodynamic, in vitro testing of heart valve prostheses of the type having a flow channel and means for including a flow of desired characteristics within said flow channel, said flow channel including test fixture means for supporting a prosthesis to be tested in a desired orientation within said flow, the improvement wherein said test fixture means comprises first and second chamber means spaced from each other along said flow channel and shuttle means intermediate said chamber means and movable between at least first and second positions, said shuttle means comprising means for supporting at least one heart valve prosthesis and selectively positioning said prosthesis in a desired orientation within said flow and without said flow by movement of said shuttle means between said first and second positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device for hydrodynamic, in vitro testing of heart valve prostheses. The device has a flow channel in which a flow of desired characteristics is induced. The flow channel includes a test fixture for supporting a prosthesis to be tested in a desired orientation within the flow. In a preferred embodiment, the test fixture includes first and second chambers spaced from each other along the flow channel and a shuttle intermediate the chambers which is movable between at least first and second positions. The shuttle includes at least one support for a heart valve prosthesis and selectively positions that prosthesis in the desired orientation within the flow by movement between the first and second positions. The shuttle may carry two or more heart valve prostheses to alternatively positioned one of them within the flow by movement of the shuttle. The chambers may be movable relative to each other to facilitate the establishment of static and dynamic seals of the flow channel between each of the chambers and the shuttle.
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Citations
18 Claims
- 1. In a system for hydrodynamic, in vitro testing of heart valve prostheses of the type having a flow channel and means for including a flow of desired characteristics within said flow channel, said flow channel including test fixture means for supporting a prosthesis to be tested in a desired orientation within said flow, the improvement wherein said test fixture means comprises first and second chamber means spaced from each other along said flow channel and shuttle means intermediate said chamber means and movable between at least first and second positions, said shuttle means comprising means for supporting at least one heart valve prosthesis and selectively positioning said prosthesis in a desired orientation within said flow and without said flow by movement of said shuttle means between said first and second positions.
Specification