Integrated heart valve rotator and holder
First Claim
1. An apparatus for supporting a mechanical heart valve during implantation of the heart valve in a patient, the heart valve having an annular valve body, at least one leaflet within said annular valve body and adapted to pivot between open and closed positions, and a sewing ring circumferentially surrounding said annular valve body, the apparatus comprisinga heart valve rotator havingat least one leaflet guard adapted to extend within said annular valve body adjacent said leaflet, anda post connected to said guard and extending away from said valve body,a sewing ring holder connected to said heart valve rotator and extending adjacent said sewing ring at at least two distinct points on said ring, said holder havingat least one arm extending between said sewing ring and said post, andmeans releasably connecting said holder to said posta single suture havinga first end secured to said holder,a middle part releasably attached to said sewing ring at each of said distinct points, anda second end secured to said holder, said single suture holding said sewing ring holder and said heart valve rotator in contact with said heart valve and being reseasable from said heart valve by severing said suture at a single point into a first and second portion, said first portion including said first end and said second portion including said second end, whereby said first and second portions remain secured to said holder.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated heart valve rotator and holder comprising a central rotator which is used, first, to protect and stabilize the leaflets of the heart valve during implantation and, second, to rotate the heart valve into a desired position after the sewing ring has been attached. A heart valve holder mounts on the rotator and is secured to the heart valve suture ring by a thread or suture. After the heart valve is stitched into the proper location in the heart, the attending physician cuts the suture at a single location and withdraws the heart valve holder, rotator and suture as a single component. The heart valve holder, carrying both parts of the severed suture, is removed from the rotator. The rotator can then be returned to the heart valve to adjust the orientation of the annular valve body within the suture ring.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus for supporting a mechanical heart valve during implantation of the heart valve in a patient, the heart valve having an annular valve body, at least one leaflet within said annular valve body and adapted to pivot between open and closed positions, and a sewing ring circumferentially surrounding said annular valve body, the apparatus comprising
a heart valve rotator having at least one leaflet guard adapted to extend within said annular valve body adjacent said leaflet, and a post connected to said guard and extending away from said valve body, a sewing ring holder connected to said heart valve rotator and extending adjacent said sewing ring at at least two distinct points on said ring, said holder having at least one arm extending between said sewing ring and said post, and means releasably connecting said holder to said post a single suture having a first end secured to said holder, a middle part releasably attached to said sewing ring at each of said distinct points, and a second end secured to said holder, said single suture holding said sewing ring holder and said heart valve rotator in contact with said heart valve and being reseasable from said heart valve by severing said suture at a single point into a first and second portion, said first portion including said first end and said second portion including said second end, whereby said first and second portions remain secured to said holder.
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6. An apparatus for supporting a mechanical heart valve during implantation of the heart valve in a patient, the heart valve having an annular valve body, at least one leaflet within said annular valve body and adapted to pivot between open and closed positions, and a sewing ring circumferentially surrounding said annular valve body, the apparatus comprising
a heart valve rotator having at least one leaflet guard adapted to extend within said annular valve body adjacent said leaflet, a saddle connected to said leaflet guard adjacent said annular valve body at a first side thereof, extended diametrically across said valve body and connected to said leaflet guard adjacent said annular valve body at a second side thereof, and a post connected to said saddle and extending away from said valve body, said post being connected to said saddle between said first and second sides, a sewing ring holder connected to said rotator and extending adjacent said sewing ring and having at least a first arm and a second arm, said first and second arms extending generally linearly along a diameter of said heart valve between said sewing ring and said post and releasably connecting said holder to said post, said holder further having a groove extending along said first arm and along said second arm, and a suture having a first end secured to said first arm of said holder, a middle part releasably stitched into said sewing ring adjacent said first arm, passed along said groove from said first arm to said second arm, and stitched into said sewing ring adjacent said second arm, and a second end secured to said second arm of said holder.
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9. A method for securing a mechanical heart valve in an apparatus for manipulating said heart valve, the heart valve comprising a sewing ring, an annular valve body rotatably received within said sewing ring, and at least one leaflet pivotally received within said valve body, the method comprising the steps of
inserting a rotator into said annular valve body, attaching a sewing ring holder to said rotator, said sewing ring holder having at least two ends adjacent distinct points on said sewing ring, tying a first end of a single suture to said sewing ring holder at a first end of said two ends thereof, releasably securing said suture to said sewing ring adjacent said first end of said two ends, passing said single suture along said sewing ring holder from said first end to a second end of said two ends of said sewing ring holder, releasably securing said suture to said sewing ring adjacent said second end and tying a second end of said suture to said sewing ring holder at said second end of said two ends thereof.
Specification