Minimally invasive valve annulus sizer

Abstract

An annulus sizer measures the size of a valve annulus during annuloplasty surgery. The annulus sizer includes a sizing portion for measuring the valve annulus and a coupling portion for attaching to a handle. The coupling portion is disposed on a proximal surface of the sizing portion. The sizing portion has a thickness on the order of about 0.1 inch. This relatively small thickness of the sizer facilitates minimally invasive annuloplasty surgery. For example, the sizer may be inserted through a relatively small intercostal incision. In addition, the relatively thin sizing portion minimizes optical distortion. The coupling portion may be disposed on the sizing portion at a location which is offset from the center of the sizer, thereby defining an enlarged viewing area. The coupling portion may have threading to engage with threading of the handle to ensure secure attachment.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.