# US 2014/0155682 A1 · Apical ring for ventricular assist device

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- Number: US 2014/0155682 A1
- Document ID: US20140155682A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/048,138
- Filed: 2013-10-08
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2012-01-05
- Assignees: Thoratec Corporation
- Applicants: Thoratec Corporation
- Inventors: Brian D. Jeffery; Sunil K. Dasara
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155682A1

## CPC

- A61M 1/3653: {Interfaces between patient blood circulation and extra-corporal blood circuit}
- A61M 1/3659: {Cannulae pertaining to extracorporeal circulation}
- A61M 60/148: in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
- 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 60/232: Centrifugal pumps
- A61M 60/857: Implantable blood tubes
- A61M 60/863: Apex rings
- 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

An apical ring for coupling a conduit of a ventricular assist device to a heart has an annular disk with a central aperture for receiving the conduit. A collar is axially aligned with the central aperture and has a cylindrical shape interrupted by a gap between first and second ends of the collar. The collar has a fixed section joined to the annular disk and has a cantilever section extending from the fixed section to the first end of the collar. A tightener selectively drives the first end toward the second end to close the gap in order to retain the conduit within the collar. The cantilever section includes a relief slot that is expandable for extending a circumferential length of the cantilever section in response to interacting with the conduit when the gap is closed.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-15. (canceled)

### Claim 16

A method for providing an interface with the heart using an apical ring, the method comprising:
securing an apical ring to a wall of a heart, the apical ring comprising a collar defining a central aperture that provides access into the heart through the wall;
inserting a conduit through the central aperture; and
manipulating at least two protrusions that extend laterally out from the collar to secure the conduit within the central aperture.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein the collar comprises two end portions separated by a gap, and wherein manipulating at least two protrusions comprises pivoting a lever of a clamp by moving a push tab of the lever and a thumb tab on the collar towards each other to progressively move the two end portions closer to each other and reduce the size of the gap.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, further comprising releasing the clamp and removing the conduit.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, further comprising replacing the conduit with another conduit and again manipulating the clamp to progressively reduce the size of the collar to secure the conduit within the central aperture of the collar.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method according to claim 18, further comprising adjusting an insertion angle of the conduit, inserting the conduit through the central aperture, and manipulating the clamp to progressively reduce the size of the collar to secure the conduit within the central aperture at the adjusted insertion angle.

### Claim 21 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein securing the apical ring comprises suturing the apical ring to the wall of the heart.

### Claim 22 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein the thumb tab is fixed in position relative to the gap.

### Claim 23 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein manipulating the clamp comprises using a single hand to move the push tab relative to the thumb tab.

### Claim 24 (depends on 17)

The method according to claim 17, wherein the clamp comprises a cam surface having a variable profile extending to a gradually larger radius away from the gap, wherein pivoting the lever further comprises engaging the gradually larger radius portion of the cam surface with the second end to increase the force applied to move the second end toward the first end to reduce the size of the gap.

### Claim 25 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, wherein the wall comprises an apex of a left ventricle of the heart.

### Claim 26 (depends on 16)

The method according to claim 16, further comprising coring a portion of the wall accessible through the central aperture.

### Claim 27

A method for providing an interface with the heart using an apical ring, the method comprising:
securing an apical ring to an apex of a left ventricle of a heart, the apical ring comprising a sealing disk and a collar defining a central aperture that provides access to a portion of the apex, the collar comprising a first end and a second end separated by an axial gap;
inserting an inflow conduit into the central aperture; and
pivoting a lever coupled with the second end of the collar from an open position to a closed position to reduce the size of the axial gap.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, wherein pivoting the lever further comprises engaging a gradually larger radius of a cam surface with the second end to progressively move the second end toward the first end to reduce the size of the axial gap to secure the inflow conduit within the central aperture.

### Claim 29 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, further comprising pivoting the lever from the closed position to the open position and removing the inflow conduit.

### Claim 30 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, further comprising replacing the inflow conduit with another inflow conduit and again pivoting the lever to reduce the size of the gap.

### Claim 31 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, wherein securing the apical ring comprises suturing the apical ring to the apex.

### Claim 32 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, wherein in the lever comprises a push tab and the collar comprises a thumb tab.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method according to claim 32, wherein the thumb tab is fixed in position relative to the axial gap.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The method according to claim 33, wherein pivoting the lever comprises using a single hand to move the push tab relative to the thumb tab.

### Claim 35 (depends on 27)

The method according to claim 27, wherein the first end is fixed with the sealing disk and a portion of the collar includes a circumferential gap to provide a cantilever section at a position proximal to the second end, and further comprising pivoting the lever inwardly to flex the cantilever section and thereby reduce the size of the central aperture to secure the inflow conduit.

### Claim 36

A method of using an apical ring, the method comprising:
providing an apical ring, the apical ring comprising:
a sealing disk;
a collar defining a central aperture that provides access to a portion of the wall of the heart, the collar comprising an axial gap defined by a first end and a second end;
a clamp configured to close the axial gap, the clamp comprising a push tab and a thumb tab;
securing the apical ring to a portion of a heart;
inserting an inflow conduit through the central aperture; and
pivoting a lever of the clamp to progressively move the first end and the second end closer to each other and reduce the size of the axial gap to secure the inflow conduit within the central aperture.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The method according to claim 36, wherein the first end is fixed with the sealing disk and a portion of the collar includes a circumferential gap to provide a cantilever section at a position proximal to the second end, and further comprising pivoting the lever inwardly to flex the cantilever section and thereby reduce the size of the central aperture to secure the inflow conduit.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The method according to claim 37, wherein the apical ring further comprises one or more relief slots extending at least partially through a width of the cantilever section, wherein the one or more relief slots are configured to permit the collar to expand when the axial gap is closed.

### Claim 39 (depends on 37)

The method according to claim 37, wherein the one or more relief slots comprise a first relief slot and a second relief slot, wherein the first relief slot is provided on a first circumferential edge of the cantilever section and the second relief slot is provided on a second circumferential edge of the cantilever section.

### Claim 40 (depends on 37)

The method according to claim 37, further comprising coring the portion of the heart accessible through the central aperture.