# US 11,039,926 B2 · Valve planning tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,039,926 B2 - Document ID: US11039926B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/079,809 - Filed: 2017-01-30 - Published: 2019-02-21 - Granted: 2021-06-22 - Earliest claimed: 2016-03-25 - Assignees: Spiration, Inc. - Applicants: Spiration, Inc. - Inventors: Erik Liljegren; Xavier Gonzalez; Lauri Devore; Fan Zhang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11039926B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/2496: {Devices for determining the dimensions of the prosthetic valve to be implanted, e.g. templates, sizers} - A61B 5/08: Measuring devices for evaluating the respiratory organs - A61B 5/1076: {for measuring dimensions inside body cavities, e.g. using catheters (A61B3/1005 takes precedence)} - A61B 5/6867: {specially adapted to be attached or implanted in a specific body part (A61B5/6847 takes precedence)} - A61F 2240/005: Templates - A61F 2250/0073: Force-limiting means - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract A valve planning tool comprising: (a) a stem having a distal end and a proximal end, (b) an anchor indicator located at the distal end, and (c) a balloon located proximal of the anchor indicator, the balloon including: (i) a retracted state and (ii) a deployed state; wherein the balloon is inflatable from the retracted state to the deployed state and the balloon is substantially non-compliant so that the balloon is only inflatable to one size. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A valve planning tool comprising: a. a stem having a distal end and a proximal end, b. an anchor indicator, including one or more tangs, located at the distal end, and c. a balloon located proximal of the anchor indicator, the balloon including: i. a retracted state and ii. a deployed state; wherein the balloon is inflatable from the retracted state to the deployed state and the balloon is substantially non-compliant so that the balloon is only inflatable to one size, wherein the one or more tangs are movable from a retracted state to a deployed state so that sweep of anchor swing can be visualized, and wherein a length from the one or more tangs to a seal area indicator of the balloon represents a length of a valve. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The valve planning tool of claim 1, wherein the balloon is inflatable with a compressible fluid. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The valve planning tool of claim 2, wherein the compressible fluid is air. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The valve planning tool of claim 1, wherein the balloon is made of polyether, a polyether block amide, polyamide, polyethylene terephthalate, a thermoplastic, a polyester, a minimally-stretchable plastic, a minimally-stretchable biocompatible plastic, a non-elastic plastic, a non-stretchable plastic, or a combination thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The valve planning tool of claim 1, wherein the one or more tangs are static. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The valve planning tool of claim 1, wherein the valve planning tool includes a length indicator that extends from the one or more tangs to the distal end of the valve planning tool. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A kit comprising: two or more valve planning tools of claim 1, wherein a first valve planning tool has a seal area indicator diameter of 5 mm, an anchor indicator diameter of 8 mm, and a length of 10 mm; a second valve planning tool has a seal area indicator diameter of 6 mm, an anchor indicator diameter of 9 mm, and a length of 11 mm; a third valve planning tool has a seal area indicator diameter of 7 mm, an anchor indicator diameter of 10 mm, and a length of 12 mm; and a fourth valve planning tool has a seal area indicator diameter of 9 mm, an anchor indicator diameter of 12 mm, and a length of 12 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The kit of claim 7, wherein a first valve planning tool of the two or more valve planning tools has a greater length, greater diameter, lesser length, lesser diameter, or a combination thereof than a second valve planning tool of the kit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The kit of claim 7, wherein the kit includes four valve planning tools of different sizes. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) A method comprising: a. compacting the valve planning tool of claim 1 into a retracted state, and b. inserting the valve planning tool into a working channel of a bronchoscope. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, wherein the valve planning tool is inserted into a structure with an area of interest, and the valve planning tool is removed from the channel of a bronchoscope. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein the valve planning tool is inflated so that the valve planning tool moves from the retracted state to a deployed state within the area of interest, and the valve planning tool is compared to the structure to determine if the structure is larger or smaller than the structure. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein the method is repeated with a larger or a smaller valve planning tool if the structure is larger or smaller than the valve planning tool.