Device and method for assessing the geometry of a heart valve

A sizer for assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus having a conical shape, a contoured line of valve leaflet attachment, a leaflet height, a valve diameter and a plurality of commissures, the sizer comprising:

• a handle portion for holding the sizer;
• and
• a sizing portion conforming in shape to the contoured line of valve attachment comprising an arch having an apex and two legs, each of which has a base adjoining the handle portion, wherein the base of each leg is bent such that the sizing portion is angled to conform to the conical shape of the annulus, and wherein the legs are separated from each other by a predetermined distance such that the sizing portion can be inserted into the annulus and the two legs placed adjacent to two of the plurality of commissures to compare the distance between the two of the plurality of commissures to the predetermined distance between the two legs, and wherein the arch has a height measured from the base of each leg to the apex, and wherein the height of the arch corresponds to a predetermined leaflet height that approximates an expected height of a leaflet of a normal heart valve having a valve diameter substantially equivalent to the diameter of the annulus, whereby the sizing portion can be inserted into the annulus and placed along the contoured line of valve leaflet attachment to compare the leaflet height of the annulus to the height of the arch.

A method of assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus having a valve diameter and a plurality of commissures, the method comprising:

• measuring the valve diameter of the annulus;
• providing a sizer corresponding in size to the valve diameter of the annulus, the sizer comprising a sizing portion comprising a distance indicator that approximates an expected distance between two commissures of a normal heart valve having a valve diameter substantially equivalent to the measured valve diameter of the annulus;
• placing the sizing portion adjacent to two of the plurality of commissures;
• and
• comparing the distance between the two of the plurality of commissures to the distance indicator.

A method of assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus having a contoured line of valve leaflet attachment, a valve diameter, and a leaflet height, the method comprising:

• measuring the valve diameter of the annulus;
• providing a sizer comprising a sizing portion, at least a portion of which has a predetermined height that approximates an expected height of a leaflet of a normal heart valve having a valve diameter substantially equivalent to the measured valve diameter of the annulus;
• inserting the sizing portion into the annulus along the contoured line of valve leaflet attachment;
• and
• comparing the leaflet height of the annulus to the predetermined height of the sizing portion.

A kit for assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus having a valve diameter and a plurality of commissures, the kit comprising:

• a plurality of sizers corresponding in size to various valve diameters, wherein each sizer comprises:
• a handle portion for holding the sizer;
• and
• a sizing portion adjoining the handle portion, the sizing portion comprising a predetermined distance indicator for assessing the distance between two of the plurality of commissures by placing the sizing portion adjacent to the two of the plurality of commissures and comparing the distance indicator to the distance between the two of the plurality of commissures.

A kit for assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus having a contoured line of valve leaflet attachment, a leaflet height, and a valve diameter, the kit comprising:

• a plurality of sizers corresponding in size to various valve diameters, wherein each sizer comprises:
• a handle portion for holding the sizer;
• and
• a sizing portion adjoining the handle portion, the sizing portion comprising a predetermined height indicator for assessing the leaflet height by placing the sizing portion along the contoured line of valve leaflet attachment and comparing the height indicator to the leaflet height of the annulus.

A method for marking a contoured line of valve leaflet attachment of a heart valve annulus, the method comprising:

• providing an instrument having a marking portion conforming in shape to the contoured line of valve leaflet attachment;
• applying a marking material to marking portion of the instrument;
• and
• placing the marking portion of the instrument along the contoured line of valve leaflet attachment to mark the line of leaflet attachment with the marking material.