Cardiac prosthesis for helping improve operation of a heart valve
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
- a generally arcuate base portion; and
a buttress extending generally radially inwardly and axially relative to the base portion so as to permit substantially bi-directional flow of blood axially relative to the apparatus, the buttress having a surface dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, whereby when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, movement of the at least one leaflet of the heart valve relative to the surface of the buttress provides substantially unidirectional flow of blood relative to the apparatus.
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Abstract
An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve includes a generally annular base and a buttress extending generally axially from and inwardly relative to an arc portion of the base. When the apparatus is when implanted at an annulus of a heart valve, the buttress thereof provides a surface with which a leaflet of the heart valve may move into and out of engagement for helping control blood flow relative to the apparatus and heart valve.
1662 Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a generally arcuate base portion; and
a buttress extending generally radially inwardly and axially relative to the base portion so as to permit substantially bi-directional flow of blood axially relative to the apparatus, the buttress having a surface dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, whereby when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, movement of the at least one leaflet of the heart valve relative to the surface of the buttress provides substantially unidirectional flow of blood relative to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a frame comprising a generally arcuate base portion and a support portion extending generally axially and inwardly relative to the base portion, the support portion terminating at a distal end spaced from the base portion; and
a sheath of a substantially flexible material extending from an arc of the base portion and to the support portion of the frame near the distal end thereof to form a buttress dimensioned and configured to be engaged by at least one leaflet of the heart valve and permit bi-directional flow of fluid axially relative to the apparatus, whereby, when the apparatus is implanted at the heart valve, the at least one leaflet of the heart valve is moveable relative to a surface of the sheath so as to provide for substantially unidirectional blood flow relative to the apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a defective heart valve having at least one viable leaflet, comprising:
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means for supporting an annulus of the heart valve so as to permit bi-directional blood flow through the support means; and
means for substantially coapting with the at least one leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is attached at the annulus of the heart valve, such that the at least one leaflet is moveable into and out of engagement with the means for substantially coapting to provide for substantially unidirectional blood flow relative to the apparatus, the means for substantially coapting extending from the means for supporting.
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Specification