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Actively-engageable movement-restriction mechanism for use with an annuloplasty structure

  • US 8,353,956 B2
  • Filed: 02/17/2010
  • Issued: 01/15/2013
  • Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. Apparatus, comprising:

  • a locking mechanism;

    a housing surrounding the locking mechanism;

    an implant shaped so as to define an implant lumen therethrough; and

    a flexible strip disposed at least in part within the implant lumen, the strip shaped so as to define;

    a first end,a second end, anda plurality of recesses,wherein the first and second ends are coupled to the locking mechanism such that the strip defines a closed loop and a perimeter thereof which (a) shortens when the first end is advanced through the locking mechanism in a first direction and (b) expands when the first end is advanced in a second direction opposite the first direction,wherein the locking mechanism comprises;

    a moveable recess-engaging portion;

    a lever arm coupled to the recess-engaging portion;

    a mechanical support, removably coupled to the recess-engaging portion by being removably positioned between the recess-engaging portion and theplurality of recesses so as to prevent the recess-engaging portion from engagingany one of the plurality of recesses; and

    a force applicator which maintains the recess-engaging portion in a position in which the recess-engaging portion is not disposed in any of the recesses during the advancing of the first end, and which, upon decoupling of the mechanical support from the recess-engaging portion, restricts motion of the plurality of recesses of the strip with respect to the second end of the strip, by facilitating positioning of the recess-engaging portion in one of the plurality of recesses,wherein during the decoupling of the mechanical support, the mechanical support is pulled away from the lever arm, which allows the lever arm to pivot along the force applicator such that (1) the lever arm lies in parallel with a longitudinal axis of the housing, and (2) the recess-engaging portion is disposed within one of the plurality of recesses.

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