Final assembly visual inspection system for packaged heart valves
First Claim
1. A method for inspecting a heart valve assembly comprising the steps of:
- (a) placing a heart valve comprising a cuff and a leaflet assembly in a holder for inspection;
(b) projecting an image of the heart valve onto an image receiver;
(c) creating digital data from the image of the heart valve, said data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve;
(d) providing digital data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve;
(e) comparing the data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve to the data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve; and
(f) using the comparison of data set forth in step (e) to verify at least one property of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the type of heart valve, the size of the heart valve, and the style of the heart valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for inspecting heart valves. The method comprises projecting an actual image of a heart valve onto an image receiver, providing target data corresponding to a desired heart valve, comparing the actual image to the target data using a microprocessor, and determining whether the actual image matches the target data. The apparatus comprises a light source, a image receiver, a holder adapted to support a heart valve between said light source and the image receiver such that an actual image of the heart valve is received at the image receiver, a microprocessor in electronic communication with the image receiver. The microprocessor has access to target values for the regions of interest and compares the actual values in each region of interest to the target values to produce an output pass/fail signal.
36 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for inspecting a heart valve assembly comprising the steps of:
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(a) placing a heart valve comprising a cuff and a leaflet assembly in a holder for inspection;
(b) projecting an image of the heart valve onto an image receiver;
(c) creating digital data from the image of the heart valve, said data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve;
(d) providing digital data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve;
(e) comparing the data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve to the data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve; and
(f) using the comparison of data set forth in step (e) to verify at least one property of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the type of heart valve, the size of the heart valve, and the style of the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for inspecting heart valve assemblies comprising:
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(a) a light source;
(b) an image receiver;
(c) a holder for a heart valve comprising a cuff and a leaflet assembly, said holder being positioned between the light source and the image receiver such that an actual image of the heart valve is received at the image receiver;
(d) an image processor for creating digital data from the actual image of the heart valve, said digital data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve;
(e) a computer system for storing digital data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve; and
(f) software for comparing the data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve with the data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve and for generating an output signal verifying at least one property of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the type of heart valve, the size of the heart valve, and the style of the heart valve. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification