Actively-engageable movement-restriction mechanism for use with an annuloplasty structure
First Claim
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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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus is provided, including a locking mechanism, an implant, and a flexible strip within the implant having a plurality of recesses. A perimeter of the strip shortens and expands when the first end of the strip is advanced bidirectionally with respect to a second end of the strip. The locking mechanism includes a moveable recess-engaging portion, a mechanical support removably coupled to the recess-engaging portion, 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. Upon decoupling of the mechanical support from the recess-engaging portion, the force applicator 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. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. Apparatus, comprising:
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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, and a 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 the plurality of recesses so as to prevent the recess-engaging portion from engaging any 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Apparatus, comprising:
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an implant comprising a flexible longitudinal member having first and second ends that are opposable to form the longitudinal member into a closed loop having a perimeter thereof which (a) shortens when the first end is advanced in a first direction with respect to the second end in a first direction and (b) expands when the first end is advanced with respect to the second end in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and when formed into the closed loop, the longitudinal member is shaped to provide an inner surface and an outer surface with respect to a center of the closed loop; a body portion coupled at at least a portion thereof to the outer surface of the longitudinal member, the body portion being shaped so as to define a body portion lumen therethrough; a flexible contracting member being disposed within and slidably advanceable through the body portion lumen to facilitate a modulation of a perimeter of the body portion, which, in turn facilitates a modulation of a perimeter of the longitudinal member; and a tubular structure shaped so as to define a tubular structure lumen therethrough, wherein; the flexible longitudinal member is disposed at least in part within the tubular structure lumen, and the longitudinal member is configured to facilitate a modulation of a perimeter of the tubular structure in response to the modulation of the perimeter of the longitudinal member. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification