摘要:
An introducer for providing access to the interior of the heart generally includes a valve, a shaft, and a piercing element. The valve has a substantially closed state in the absence of an instrument inside the valve and an open state in the presence of the instrument inside the valve. The shaft has first and second ends. The piercing element is located at the first end of the shaft. The shaft is removably positioned inside the valve in an assembled condition. The valve is dimensioned to receive the instrument therein upon removal of the shaft from the valve.
摘要:
Holders for releasably holding annuloplasty rings prior to and during the implantation of the rings employ any of a variety of features relating to such things as holder shape, handle attachment structures, securement of a ring to the holder, and release of the ring from the holder.
摘要:
A prosthetic heart valve is circumferentially collapsible for less invasive delivery into a patient. The valve re-expands to operating size at the implant site in the patient. A frame structure of the valve includes restraining structure that can help to push one or more of the patient's native heart valve leaflets radially outwardly so that this native leaflet tissue does not interfere with the operation or service life of the prosthetic valve.
摘要:
A structure for use as a prosthetic heart valve leaflet includes a two-dimensional array that is made up of one or more fiber strands and that is covered by a web of polymer material to produce a sheet that is impervious to blood. This sheet is stretchable along two axes that lie in the plane of the sheet and that are at an angle to one another. The sheet may be more easily stretched along one of these axes than along the other axis. Along each axis the amount of force required to produce initial increments of stretch may be less than the amount of force required to produce subsequent increments of stretch (i.e., increments of stretch beyond the initial increments).
摘要:
In some embodiments, a flow system includes a medical device mount, fluid and a conduit containing the fluid and medical device mount. The conduit is mounted on an assembly that moves the conduit along with the medical device mount to induce relative motion of the fluid relative to the medical device mount. In preferred embodiments, pulsatile fluid motion is generated. In some embodiments, the fluid includes viable cells. In alternative embodiments, a flow system includes a continuous flow pump connected to a conduit loop having multiple branch conduits downstream from the pump providing alternative paths over a section of the conduit loop. Each branch conduit has a valve controlling flow through the branch. In some embodiments, at least one branch includes a medical device mount.
摘要:
A structure that can be used to provide an anchor in or adjacent to a patient's soft body tissue (rather than bone) includes an annular array of flexible members that extend between two axially spaced but aligned tubular members. The space between the tubular members can be selectively changed to affect the amount by which portions of the flexible members between the tubular member project radially outward relative to the tubular members. When the flexible members project radially out, the structure resists axial movement relative to adjacent tissue and therefore acts as an anchor. When the flexible members do not project radially out, they permit axial movement of the structure through adjacent tissue.
摘要:
Prosthetic conduits include biocompatible material formed into a generally cylindrical section and an expanded section connected to the generally cylindrical section. The conduit has a lumen extending through the generally cylindrical section and the expanded section. The biocompatible material may be tissue. The biocompatible material can include one segment or a plurality of segments joined together to form the generally cylindrical section and the expanded section. The prosthetic conduit may include a reinforcement to prevent dilation or collapse of the conduit. The reinforcement can be placed at or near the junction of a generally cylindrical section and an expanded section and/or at other locations along the conduit. The prosthetic conduit may include a prosthetic heart valve. The prosthetic conduit can include tubules to facilitate attachment of coronary arteries to the prosthetic conduit The prosthetic conduit includes two sections that are joined to form the prosthetic conduit.
摘要:
An annuloplasty ring holder includes a first member and a second member. The first and second members are configured to provide relative movement therebetween to engage an annuloplasty ring.