Rotatable cuff assembly for a heart valve prosthesis
First Claim
1. A heart valve prosthesis comprising a generally annular orifice structure having an outer circumference and two circumferential shoulders extending in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, the heart valve substantially blocking fluid flow through the orifice structure in one direction and permitting fluid flow through the orifice structure in the direction opposite to the first direction, and further including a sewing cuff assembly mounted to the orifice structure, the sewing cuff assembly comprising a resiliently deformed spring extending around the outer circumference of the orifice structure positioned between the two circumferential shoulders and having a shape which is resiliently deformable in a radial direction, the spring for actively and independently exerting a controlled force directed substantially radially inward on a surface of the outer circumference of the orifice structure due to a substantially radially outward deformation in the shape of the spring, the surface causing the deformation of the spring to thereby provide the controlled force which is selected to result in a rotation-resisting torque sufficient to resist rotation during normal operation of the valve after implantation but low enough to permit assisted rotation and wherein the radially inward force causes the resiliently deformed spring to be captured between the two circumferential shoulders which thereby substantially secure the spring from movement in an axial direction.
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Abstract
The invention provides a sewing cuff assembly for mounting to the body of a heart valve prosthesis. The sewing cuff assembly comprises a resiliently deformed spring for exerting a force directed toward the orifice structure. When a torque is applied to the valve, the force results in a rotation-resisting torque sufficient to resist rotation during normal operation of the valve after implantation but low enough to permit assisted rotation, as during surgery.
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Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A heart valve prosthesis comprising a generally annular orifice structure having an outer circumference and two circumferential shoulders extending in a radially outward direction from the outer circumference, the heart valve substantially blocking fluid flow through the orifice structure in one direction and permitting fluid flow through the orifice structure in the direction opposite to the first direction, and further including a sewing cuff assembly mounted to the orifice structure, the sewing cuff assembly comprising a resiliently deformed spring extending around the outer circumference of the orifice structure positioned between the two circumferential shoulders and having a shape which is resiliently deformable in a radial direction, the spring for actively and independently exerting a controlled force directed substantially radially inward on a surface of the outer circumference of the orifice structure due to a substantially radially outward deformation in the shape of the spring, the surface causing the deformation of the spring to thereby provide the controlled force which is selected to result in a rotation-resisting torque sufficient to resist rotation during normal operation of the valve after implantation but low enough to permit assisted rotation and wherein the radially inward force causes the resiliently deformed spring to be captured between the two circumferential shoulders which thereby substantially secure the spring from movement in an axial direction.
Specification