US 5,843,179 A · Suture guard for prosthetic heart valve

Abstract

A heart valve prosthesis for use in a heart includes an orifice defining a lumen therethrough for blood flow. An occluder is carried in the orifice and is movable between an open position which allows blood flow through the lumen and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is blocked. A suture cuff coupled to the orifice extends around an outer circumference of the orifice and is used for attaching the heart valve to a heart tissue annulus using sutures. The sutures are knotted proximate the suture cuff to secure the cuff to the annulus. A suture guard is coupled to the suture cuff and is movable between an open position in which the suture knot is exposed and a closed position in which the suture, suture knot and suture cuff are covered.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A heart valve prosthesis, comprising:

an orifice housing having an exterior circumference and providing a lumen therethrough;
an occluder movable in the orifice housing between an open position allowing flow through the lumen and a closed position in which flow through the lumen is blocked;
a suture cuff extending around the exterior circumference and coupled to the orifice housing, the suture cuff adapted for receiving an attachment mechanism therethrough for attaching the prosthesis to a heart tissue annulus, wherein the cuff provides an attachment surface for carrying the attachment mechanism thereon;
and
a guard integral with the heart valve prosthesis which includes a plurality of elongated fingers attached to the cuff, the fingers bendable between an open position in which the attachment surface is exposed and a closed position covering the attachment surface.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suture guard for prosthetic heart valve

Life of this patent

Suture guard for prosthetic heart valve

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19