Method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring
First Claim
1. A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
- providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter;
stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus;
positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus;
maintaining the annuloplasty ring at its expanded diameter while attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus by using an attachment device to physically connect the annuloplasty ring to the annulus; and
permitting the annuloplasty ring in contract inward from its expanded diameter so as to decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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Abstract
A method of implanting a resilient self-molding annuloplasty ring including stretching it to an expanded diameter and attaching it to a heart valve annulus, then permitting the ring to contract to reduce the diameter of the annulus. The ring may be positioned on an insertion device that maintains the ring in its expanded diameter while attaching to the annulus. The resilient self molding annuloplasty ring which may be enlarged prior to implantation to facilitate implantation within a dilated or otherwise incompetent valve annulus having sufficient contractive force to render a valve competent. The self molding annuloplasty ring of the invention may further comprise integral attachment devices to aid in the implantation process.
137 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; maintaining the annuloplasty ring at its expanded diameter while attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus by using an attachment device to physically connect the annuloplasty ring to the annulus; and permitting the annuloplasty ring in contract inward from its expanded diameter so as to decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member having a relaxed diameter and an outer attachment sheath; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus by using an attachment device to physically connect the attachment sheath to the annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter and a resilient sizing member having a relaxed diameter; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; maintaining the annuloplasty ring at its expanded diameter while attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; permitting the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter so as to decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus; and limiting contraction of the annuloplasty ring to a contracted diameter that is larger than the relaxed diameter of the sizing member. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31)
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32. A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; maintaining the annuloplasty ring at its expanded diameter while attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus, wherein the annuloplasty ring is maintained at its expanded diameter by positioning the annuloplasty ring on an insertion device at the time of manufacture; and permitting the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter so as to decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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33. A method of implanting an annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; maintaining the annuloplasty ring at its expanded diameter while attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus, wherein the annuloplasty ring is maintained at its expanded diameter by positioning the annuloplasty ring on an insertion device immediately prior to implantation; and permitting the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter so as to decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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34. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member and an outer attachment sheath, wherein said outer attachment sheath is selected from the group consisting of; biologically compatible fabric mesh, polyethylene terephthalate, polyester knit, PTFE knit, and ePTFE knit; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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35. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member and an outer attachment sheath, wherein said outer attachment sheath comprises a medicament to induce tissue growth; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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36. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member having a relaxed diameter and an outer attachment sheath; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus; and limiting contraction of the annuloplasty ring to a contracted diameter that is larger than the relaxed diameter of the inner sizing member. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member comprising a biologically compatible elastomer and an outer attachment sheath; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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40. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member and an outer attachment sheath; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device at the time of manufacture; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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41. A method of implanting a self-molding annuloplasty ring in a heart valve annulus, comprising:
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providing a resilient annuloplasty ring having a contracted diameter, the annuloplasty ring including a resilient inner sizing member and an outer attachment sheath; stretching the annuloplasty ring to an expanded diameter commensurate with the diameter of a dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the expanded annuloplasty ring on an insertion device immediately prior to implantation; delivering the insertion device and expanded annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; positioning the annuloplasty ring within the heart valve annulus; attaching the annuloplasty ring to the dilated heart valve annulus; and removing the insertion device so as to permit the annuloplasty ring to contract inward from its expanded diameter and decrease the size of the attached heart valve annulus.
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Specification