Suture rings for heart valves
First Claim
1. A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprisinga retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion,a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion,band means for securing the opposite ends of said fabric tube together, anddeformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding said band means in permanent position, said deformable means being deformed from a first position adjacent said band means to a second permanent lock positon about said band means.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Suture rings are provided for heart valves having surrounding stiffening protrusions that are either integral parts of the heart valve bodies or are rigid rings held in interference fit within peripheral grooves of heart valve bodies. Metal retainer rings engage the stiffening protrusions to lock the retainer rings to the valve bodies and carry fabric coverings on their exterior surfaces that are suturable to the heart tissues. Deformable portions of the retainer rings are used to provide engagement between the retainer rings and the protrusions and also to permanently position bands that secure the fabric coverings to the retainer rings.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising
a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion, band means for securing the opposite ends of said fabric tube together, and deformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding said band means in permanent position, said deformable means being deformed from a first position adjacent said band means to a second permanent lock positon about said band means.
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2. A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising
a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube, band means for securing the ends of said fabric tube to said retainer ring so that exposed surfaces of said retainer ring when it is locked onto said protrusion are fully covered by said fabric tube, said band means comprising a first band for securing one end of said fabric tube to said retainer ring and a second band for securing the other end of said fabric tube to said retianer ring, and deformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding at least said first band in permanent position.
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13. In combination,
a heart valve comprising a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing said passageway, and an annular groove around the valve body; -
a stiffener ring in interference fit within said groove, a portion of said stiffener ring extending outward of said groove to provide a protruding portion having first and second end surfaces; and a suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to fit about said protruding portion of said stiffener ring, radially inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface and a deformable end portion for engaging said second end surface to lock said retaining ring onto said stiffener ring, and a fabric member covering exposed surfaces of said retainer ring. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising
a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion, band means for securing opposite ends of said fabric tube together with said fabric tube fully covering surfaces of said retainer ring, said retainer ring having deformable tine means and an outwardly extending flange, and said tine means being crimped to extend substantially to said flange to substantially encircle said band means.
Specification