Methods of assembling valved aortic conduits
AssigneeEdwards Lifesciences Corporation
InventorsMichael C. Murad, Hilda Z. Fann, Mark Van Nest, John X. Wang, Derrick Johnson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valved conduit including a bioprosthetic aortic heart valve connected to a tubular conduit graft forming an ascending aorta. The conduit graft may attach to the heart valve in a manner that facilitates a redo operation in which the valve is replaced with another valve. A sewing ring may be pre-attached to the inflow end of the graft, and then the valve connected to a delivery holder advanced into the graft and secured to the sewing ring. Dry bioprosthetic valves coupled with conduit grafts sealed with a bioresorbable medium can be stored with the delivery holder.
Claims20
A method of assembling a valved conduit, comprising:
- forming a subassembly of a fabric conduit graft and an annular sewing ring, the conduit graft comprising a longitudinal tubular portion between an upper end and a lower end, the lower end having a collar portion, the sewing ring comprising an inner core surrounded by an outer fabric covering, the step of forming comprising positioning the sewing ring adjacent the lower end of the conduit graft so that the collar portion contacts an inner wall of the annular sewing ring and securing the collar portion thereto;
- providing a prosthetic heart valve having an annular support frame covered with fabric and defining a flow orifice and a plurality of flexible bioprosthetic leaflets extending inward from the support frame to ensure one-way blood flow through the heart valve, the fabric covering the support frame extending downward in a tubular segment;
- and
- positioning the heart valve within the lower end of the subassembly of the conduit graft and sewing ring and folding the tubular segment of the fabric covering radially outward underneath the subassembly and securing the tubular segment thereto with sutures.
A method of assembling a valved conduit, comprising:
- forming a subassembly of a fabric conduit graft and an annular sewing ring, the conduit graft comprising a longitudinal tubular portion between an upper end and a lower end, the lower end having a collar portion, the sewing ring comprising an inner core surrounded by an outer fabric covering, the step of forming comprising positioning the sewing ring adjacent the lower end of the conduit graft so that the collar portion contacts an inner wall of the annular sewing ring and securing the collar portion thereto;
- providing a prosthetic heart valve having an annular support frame covered with fabric but without a sewing ring attached thereto and flow-occluding flexible bioprosthetic leaflets mounted within the support frame;
- positioning the prosthetic heart valve within the lower end of the subassembly of the conduit graft and sewing ring, with the annular support frame adjacent to and in contact with the inner wall of the annular sewing ring;
- and
- securing the prosthetic heart valve within the lower end with sutures between the fabric covering the annular support frame and the annular sewing ring.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.