Selectively flexible annuloplasty ring
First Claim
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1. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a hear valve annulus comprising:
- a selectively flexible body member which is formed with a substantially annular shape proportioned to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus, said selectively flexible body member having at least one defined length which is substantially more rigid than the remainder of said selectively flexible body member, said substantially more rigid defined length comprising a portion of said member which curves upward out of a plane in which the remainder of said body member substantially lies; and
a covering surrounding said body member which is formed to permit the passage of sutures.
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Abstract
An annuloplasty ring prosthesis which is formed from a selectively flexible body element having at least one defined length about its circumference which is substantially rigid. The remainder of the body element gradually increases in flexibility. The body element is a substantially annular shaped body element which is designed to be sutured to the annulus of a heart valve. The body element is formed from a non-corrosive, anti-magnetic material, and is wrapped in a material through which sutures can be drawn to suture the prosthesis to the heart valve annulus.
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Citations
49 Claims
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1. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a hear valve annulus comprising:
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a selectively flexible body member which is formed with a substantially annular shape proportioned to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus, said selectively flexible body member having at least one defined length which is substantially more rigid than the remainder of said selectively flexible body member, said substantially more rigid defined length comprising a portion of said member which curves upward out of a plane in which the remainder of said body member substantially lies; and a covering surrounding said body member which is formed to permit the passage of sutures. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 30, 31, 32, 33, 36)
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9. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a heart valve annulus comprising:
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a selectively flexible body member which is formed with a substantially annular shape proportioned to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus, said flexible body member being formed from one or more individual substantially flat bands wrapped upon one another to form a multi-layered structure, said selectively flexible body member being at least one defined length which is substantially more rigid than the remainder of said body member, said defined length defined by a portion of said body member which curves upward out of a plane in which the remainder of said body member substantially lies; and a covering surrounding said body member which is formed to permit the passage of sutures. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a heart valve annulus comprising:
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a selectively flexible body member formed from a plurality of individual wire strands arranged in a bundle and in a substantially annular shape proportioned to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus, said selectively flexible body member having at least one length which is substantially more rigid than the remainder of said selectively flexible body member as defined by fixing together said individual wire strands along said length, wherein said bundle of individual wire strands is arranged in an elastomeric tube, with the individual strands embedded in an elastomeric material held within said tube; and a covering surrounding said selectively flexible body member which is formed to permit the passage of sutures. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a heart valve annulus comprising:
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a selectively flexible body member formed from a plurality of individual wire strands arranged in a bundle and in a substantially annular shape proportioned to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus, said selectively flexible body member having at least one length which is substantially more rigid than the remainder of said selectively flexible body member as defined by fixing together said individual wire strands along said length, wherein each of said individual wire strands is coated with polytetrafluoroethylene or an elastomeric material; and a covering surrounding said selectively flexible body member which is formed to permit the passage of sutures. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 37, 38)
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39. An annuloplasty ring prosthesis for suturing about a heart valve annulus comprising:
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a selectively flexible body member having a substantially annular shape proportional to fit about the circumference of said heart valve annulus which is formed from a multi-lumen tubular enclosure, with individual wire strands positioned individually in each of said tubular enclosure lumens, said body member being formed at one or more positions about its circumference with defined lengths which are substantially more rigid than the remainder of said body circumference, said member gradually increasing in flexibility about its circumference in a direction away from each of said defined rigid lengths; and means associated with said body member for enclosing said tubular structure, which is formed to permit suturing of said ring prosthesis about said heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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Specification