Expandable annuloplasty ring

US6217610A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Alexandre Carpentier · Paris, FR
• Alain F. Carpentier · Paris, FR
• Hung L. Lam · Norco, US
• Than Nguyen · Tecate Mission Road, US
• Van Huynh · Tustin, US
• Crystal M. Cunanan · Mission Viejo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jul 29, 1998
• Grant date: Apr 17, 2001
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2250/0082
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An expandable annuloplasty ring which may either expand spontaneously, in situ, as the patient grows or be expanded by surgical intervention by balloon dilatation. The distensible annuloplasty ring of the invention may be usable in pediatric patients whose growth, subsequent to surgical implantation of the ring, will necessitate subsequent enlargement of the ring to accommodate growth of the annulus. The ring may include relatively expandable segments to enable the enlargement thereof. The ring segments may include engaging teeth which cooperate with notches or slots formed in the tubes to provide some resistance to ring distention, while preventing collapse of the ring in the opposite direction. The teeth may be of different sizes or shapes to regulate the amount of force needed to expand the ring at different stages of the patient's growth. Alternatively, the adjustable ring includes a solid core of non-elastic material which plastically retains its shape upon natural expansion of the annulus, or after surgical expansion. In one embodiment, segments are coupled together with a discontinuity around the ring periphery. Pivot regions are provided between adjacent segments that, alon…