US 5,697,382 A · Heart valve assembly method

Abstract

A method of assembling a heart valve is provided for use with an inner and a spreadable outer stent. The outer stent is mounted onto a spreading tool including a spreading ring, and expander, and a plunger. A protective cap is placed over the outer stent and plunger to prevent relative rotation of the outer stent to the expander prior to the complete spreading of the outer stent. The inner stent, with tissue wrapped thereon, is mounted onto an insertion tool including a mandrel having a plurality of guide rails for mating with slots of the spreading ring, wherein the guide rails in the slots provide axial and radial alignment of the inner and outer stents. The mandrel holding the inner stent is inserted through the spreading ring holding the outer stent, thereby releasing the mated stents from the spreading ring and mandrel and securely clamping the tissue between the stents.

Claims7

Dependent claims

A method of assembling a bioprosthetic heart valve, comprising:

providing an inner stent covered with tissue and having a plurality of posts and a spreadable outer stent with an inner edge expandable from a first position to a second, spread position, said outer stent having a plurality of posts;
mounting said outer stent onto a spreading tool;
placing a protective cap over said tool and said outer stent for preventing rotation of said outer stent with respect to said tool;
spreading said outer stent by expanding said inner edge from said first position to said second spread position using said tool;
providing insertion means for inserting said inner stent into engagement with said outer stent, said insertion means including indexing means for ensuring proper alignment of the posts of said inner and outer stents;
and
inserting said inner stent into said outer stent using said indexing means to ensure proper axial and radial alignment of the posts of said inner and outer stents.

4 more elements

A method of assembling a bioprosthetic heart valve, comprising:

providing an inner stent covered with tissue and having a plurality of posts and an outer stent with an inner edge expandable from a first position to a second, spread position;
providing a spreading ring having axial slots and an elevated lip for engaging the inner edge of said outer stent;
providing an expander having top and bottom annular portions and a plurality of fingers secured to said top portion;
inserting said expander into said spreading ring, the fingers of said expander registering with said slots of said spreading ring;
placing said fingers of said expander into contact with the inner edge of said outer stent;
providing a cylindrical plunger;
inserting said cylindrical plunger into the bottom annular portion of said expander, spreading said fingers radially outward and thereby expanding said outer stent from said first position to said second, spread position;
moving the elevated lip of said spreading ring into engagement with the inner edge of said outer stent;
removing said spreading ring and outer stent from engagement with said expander;
providing a mandrel suitable for holding said inner stent;
and
inserting said mandrel into said spreading ring to induce said outer stent to clamp over said inner stent and securely hold said tissue therebetween, said inner and outer stents automatically released from said mandrel and said spreading ring, respectively.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Heart valve assembly method

Life of this patent

Heart valve assembly method

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims7