Intraoperative aortic valve visualization test devices and systems and methods for using them
AssigneeThe Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University
InventorsYuanjia Zhu, Annabel M. Imbrie-Moore, Michael John Paulsen, Y. Joseph Woo
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Devices and methods are provided for pressurization of an aortic valve of a heart before and/or after a valve surgery procedure to mimic the physiologic environment that the aortic valve experiences while allowing surgeons to visually inspect the aortic valve, so that if additional repair needs to be performed, it can be done immediately before aortotomy closure.
Claims18
A device for testing and/or visualizing a heart valve within a subject's body, comprising:
- a transparent housing comprising one or more sidewalls extending between an open lower end sized for placement above a heart valve, and an upper end, the one or more sidewalls defining a peripheral outermost surface of the housing and surrounding an interior of the housing;
- a transparent cover enclosing the upper end and the interior of the housing for viewing the heart valve;
- a first port extending through the peripheral outermost surface of the housing and communicating with the interior for connection to a source of fluid to deliver fluid into the interior of the housing;
- and
- one or more vacuum ports extending through the peripheral outermost surface of the housing and communicating with the interior to remove air from the interior of the housing,
- wherein each of the one or more vacuum ports comprises a valve actuatable between an open position to allow air within the interior to be displaced by the fluid and a closed position to allow the fluid from the source of fluid to pressurize the interior and the heart valve.
A system for testing and/or visualizing a heart valve within a subject's body, comprising:
- a transparent housing comprising one or more sidewalls extending between an open lower end sized for placement above a heart valve, and an upper end, the one or more sidewalls defining a peripheral outermost surface of the device and surrounding an interior of the housing;
- a transparent cover enclosing the upper end of the housing for viewing the heart valve;
- a first port extending through the peripheral outermost surface of the housing and communicating with the interior;
- a source of fluid connectable to the first port to deliver the fluid into the interior of the housing to test sealing of the valve;
- and
- a second port extending through the peripheral outermost surface of the housing and communicating with the interior,
- wherein the second port comprises a valve actuatable between an open position to remove air from the interior of the housing displaced by the fluid delivered into the interior and a closed position to allow the fluid from the source of fluid to pressurize the interior and the heart valve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.