Implantable cardiac prosthesis for mitigating prolapse of a heart valve
First Claim
1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
- a generally annular shaped base portion having a central axis; and
a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion and interconnecting diametrically opposite locations on the base portion, the buttress having at least a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the second surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, whereby the buttress permits flow of blood adjacent the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus helps improve operation of a heart valve. The apparatus includes an arcuate base portion having a central axis and a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion. The buttress has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The second surface is dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve. The buttress permits flow of blood adjacent both the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a generally annular shaped base portion having a central axis; and a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion and interconnecting diametrically opposite locations on the base portion, the buttress having at least a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the second surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, whereby the buttress permits flow of blood adjacent the first surface of the buttress and the second surface of the buttress when the first and second leaflets are not engaging the buttress. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a base portion having a central axis; and a buttress extending axially from the base portion relative to the base portion, the buttress including a first surface and an opposite second surface, the first surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a first leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the second surface being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by a second leaflet of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, the buttress permitting flow of blood adjacent the surface of the buttress when the leaflet is not engaging the buttress, the buttress having a base and an axially opposite distal end, the base having a width, the distal end having a width less than the width of the base, the surface extending between the base and the distal end, the surface including an arcuate lip portion adjacent the base. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus for helping improve operation of a heart valve, comprising:
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a generally arcuate base portion having a central axis that extends through the apparatus; and a buttress extending axially from the base portion, the buttress including at least two generally opposing surfaces that extend axially from a base of the buttress, which base extends between and interconnects spaced apart locations of the base portion, and that terminates in a distal end spaced axially apart from the base of the buttress, each of the at least two generally opposing surfaces being dimensioned and configured to be engaged by respective leaflets of the heart valve when the apparatus is implanted in the heart valve, whereby the buttress permits flow of blood along the at least two generally opposing surfaces of the buttress when the leaflets are not engaging the buttress. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification