# US 10,245,360 B2 · Connector ring clamp and associated methods of use > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,360 B2 - Document ID: US10245360B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/741,008 - Filed: 2015-06-16 - Published: 2015-12-17 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-06-17 - Assignees: HeartWare, Inc. - Applicants: HeartWare, Inc. - Inventors: Lance Lynn Andrus; Andre Castillo - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245360B2 ## CPC - A61M 60/859: Connections therefor - A61M 60/178: drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices - A61M 60/216: including a rotating member acting on the blood, e.g. impeller - A61M 60/861: Connections or anchorings for connecting or anchoring pumps or pumping devices to parts of the patient's body - A61M 60/863: Apex rings - A61M 60/865: Devices for guiding or inserting pumps or pumping devices into the patient's body - A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices - A61M: DEVICES FOR INTRODUCING MEDIA INTO, OR ONTO, THE BODY (introducing media into or onto the bodies of animals A61D7/00; means for inserting tampons A61F13/26; devices for administering food or medicines orally A61J; containers for collecting, storing or administering blood or medical fluids A61J1/05); DEVICES FOR TRANSDUCING BODY MEDIA OR FOR TAKING MEDIA FROM THE BODY (surgery A61B; chemical aspects of surgical articles A61L); DEVICES FOR PRODUCING OR ENDING SLEEP OR STUPOR {(Electrotherapy, e.g. producing anaesthesia by the use of alternating or intermittent currents A61N1/36021)} ## Abstract In one embodiment, the present invention includes a connector ring assembly to attach a VAD to a heart. The assembly includes a clamp which can rotate completely about the annular wall in a first state and is fixed relative to the annular wall in a second state. The clamp transitions from the first state to the second state via an actuator. The actuator can be configured with an axis of rotation generally parallel to the opening of the annular wall, thereby allowing manipulation of the actuator through the same surgical accessway as that used to implant the connector ring assembly. At least one embodiment provides a connector flange separately from an annular wall to provide greater access to the connector flange during implantation. The annular wall and clamp are attached to the connector flange after the flange is fixed to the heart. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A connector ring assembly comprising: an annular wall defining a first opening adapted to receive a conduit, the first opening having an opening axis; a clamp having a body and a first arm and a second arm coupled to each other by the body, the first arm and the second arm defining a distance therebetween extending away from body and entirely along the first arm and the second arm, the clamp engaging the annular wall and defining a second opening co-axial with the first opening, the clamp operably configured to rotate relative to the annular wall in a first state and remain fixed relative to the annular wall in a second state, and the distance between the first arm and second arm in the first state being greater than the distance between the first arm and second arm in the second state; an actuator disposed substantially parallel with respect to the annular wall and the clamp, the actuator adapted to transition the clamp between the first state and the second state; and an actuator receiver defining an actuator opening including the actuator disposed therein, the actuator opening having an actuator axis generally parallel to the opening axis. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the actuator axis is offset from the opening axis. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first and second arms overlap. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein the first arm and the second arm form a unitary member which includes a flexible band. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the second opening defined by the clamp body in the first state is larger than an outer diameter of the annular wall and the clamp body bears on the outer diameter of the annular wall in the second state. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein: the actuator receiver is a spanning member adapted to receive the actuator and coupled to one of the first arm and the second arm and extending past the other of the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The connector ring assembly of claim 3, wherein the actuator further comprises a cam rotatable about the actuator axis and rotation of the cam urges at least one of the first arm and the second arm toward the other of the first arm and the second arm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The connector ring assembly of claim 7, wherein the actuator is threadingly engaged with the clamp body for movement along the actuator axis upon rotation of the cam about the actuator axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The connector ring assembly of claim 8, wherein the actuator has a sloping cam surface. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising an interface on the actuator configured to engage a tool by relative motion of the tool and the actuator along the actuator axis. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the annular wall comprises at least one relief cut extending from a proximal side of the annular wall toward a distal side of the annular wall. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The connector ring assembly of claim 11, wherein the at least one relief cut has a first width when the clamp is in the first state and has a second width smaller than the first width when the clamp is in the second state. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, wherein the clamp includes a brake separate from the clamp body and adapted to be moved by the actuator to transition the clamp from the first state to the second state. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The connector ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the actuator comprises a rotatable cam, and rotation of the cam moves the brake relative to the body to reduce the diameter of the second opening. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The connector ring assembly of claim 13, wherein the body comprises first and second portions connected by at least one hinge. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The connector ring assembly of claim 1, further comprising a gimbal adapted to be placed within the first opening to receive a conduit at a plurality of angles relative to the opening axis.