Aortic bands
AssigneeSt. Jude Medical, Cardiology Division, Inc.
InventorsAaron J. Chalekian, Paul Edward Ashworth, Daniel J. Klima, Catherine A. Pipenhagen
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Abstract
A method of testing the performance of a collapsible prosthetic heart valve includes wrapping an aortic band around an outer surface of a portion of an aorta, fastening a first end portion of the aortic band to a second end portion of the aortic band, implanting a collapsible prosthetic heart valve in the aorta at an implantation site, and flowing a pressurized fluid through the aorta. The aortic band may be positioned near the sinotubular junction of the aorta. When installed around the aorta, the aortic band reinforces the portion of the aorta so as to be more resistant to radial expansion.
Claims9
A band assembly for stiffening a portion of an aorta, the band assembly comprising:
- an elongated body having a first end portion and a second end portion, the body forming a loop in an assembled condition, the body being biased toward a substantially flat condition;
- an aperture formed in the body in the first end portion;
- at least one L-shaped slot formed in the body in the second end portion;
- and
- a fastener for fastening the first end portion of the band to the second end portion of the band.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.