Heart valve annuloplasty prosthesis sewing cuffs and methods of making same

• US 20050256567A1
• Filed: 05/10/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lim, Jyue Boon, McCarthy, Andrea L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,938,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.360
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings

Abstract

An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve has a sewing cuff added to the conventional structure. The sewing cuff is preferably an extension of the fabric cover that is provided around the core of the prosthesis. The sewing cuff preferably extends radially outwardly from cross sections of the remainder of the prosthesis. Methods of making such a sewing cuff are also disclosed.

Claims

1. An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve comprising:

a core member;

a fabric cover around the core member; and

an extension of the fabric cover that extends radially outwardly from cross sections of the core member and the fabric cover for use as a sewing cuff.

2. The prosthesis defined in claim 1 wherein the extension is substantially one-piece with the fabric cover.

3. The prosthesis defined in claim 1 further comprising:

stitching for stabilizing the extension.

4. The prosthesis defined in claim 3 wherein the stitching is disposed between the fabric cover and the extension.

5. The prosthesis defined in claim 4 further comprising:

additional stitching for closing the fabric cover around the core member, the additional stitching being annularly spaced from the extension around the core member.

6. The prosthesis defined in claim 1 wherein the extension is formed from at least one free edge portion of the fabric used for the fabric cover.

7. The prosthesis defined in claim 6 wherein the at least one free edge portion is folded to increase bulk of the extension.

8. The prosthesis defined in claim 6 wherein the extension is formed from two free edge portions of the fabric used for the fabric cover, the free edge portions being joined together in the extension.

9. The prosthesis defined in claim 8 wherein the two free edge portions are folded in the extension.

10. A method of making an annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve comprising:

adding to a core of the prosthesis a sewing cuff that extends radially outwardly from a portion of a periphery of a cross section of other structure of the prosthesis.

11. The method defined in claim 10 wherein the prosthesis includes a fabric cover surrounding the core, and wherein the adding comprises:

using cover fabric to provide the sewing cuff.

12. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the using comprises:

employing a medial portion of the cover fabric to provide the sewing cuff.

13. The method defined in claim 12 wherein the employing comprises:

pinching the medial portion of the cover fabric.

14. The method defined in claim 13 wherein the employing further comprises:

stitching together cover fabric that has been pinched in the pinching.

15. The method defined in claim 11 wherein the using comprises:

employing a free edge portion of the cover fabric to provide the sewing cuff.

16. The method defined in claim 15 wherein the employing comprises:

folding the free edge portion of the cover fabric.

17. The method defined in claim 16 wherein the employing further comprises:

stitching together cover fabric that has been folded in the folding.