Stapling apparatus and method for heart valve replacement
First Claim
1. A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising:
- a plurality of sutures, each suture having a staple attached to a distal end thereof;
a surgical stapler for discharging the staples into a heart at a location adjacent a site for installing the heart valve;
a support assembly for releasably supporting the plurality of sutures; and
a heart valve setter assembly, the heart valve setter assembly being operable to engage the plurality of sutures with the heart valve and move the heart valve into position within the site in the heart.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
There are disclosed various systems and methods for installing a synthetic, artificial heart valve within a patient. One system generally includes a plurality of sutures, each suture having a staple attached to a distal end thereof; a surgical stapler for radially discharging the staples into a heart at a location adjacent a site for installing the heart valve; a support assembly for releasably supporting the plurality of sutures; and a heart valve setter assembly, the heart valve setter assembly being operable to move the heart valve into position within the site in the heart. A method of installing a heart valve within a patient utilizing the system is provided and generally includes the steps of accessing a site within a heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; positioning a surgical stapler within the site; discharging a plurality of staples, having sutures attached thereto, from the surgical stapler into the heart; lowering the heart valve along the sutures into position within the site in the heart; and securing the heart valve to the heart with the sutures.
190 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A system for installing a heart valve within a patient comprising:
-
a plurality of sutures, each suture having a staple attached to a distal end thereof; a surgical stapler for discharging the staples into a heart at a location adjacent a site for installing the heart valve; a support assembly for releasably supporting the plurality of sutures; and a heart valve setter assembly, the heart valve setter assembly being operable to engage the plurality of sutures with the heart valve and move the heart valve into position within the site in the heart. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A system for installing a heart valve within a heart comprising:
-
a plurality of sutures; means for attaching a distal end of the plurality of sutures to the heart at a location adjacent a site for installing the heart valve; a support assembly for releasably supporting the plurality of sutures; a heart valve setter assembly, the heart valve setter assembly being operable to engage the plurality of sutures with the heart valve and move the heart valve into position within the site in the heart; and a plurality of needles attached to proximal ends of the plurality of sutures; wherein the support assembly includes a plurality of legs, a ring member and a ring shaped needle guard mounted on the ring member, the ring member including a plurality of grooves on an inner surface thereof for releasably securing plurality of needles and configured to interconnect the plurality of legs at a proximal end thereof. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification