Device and method for assessing the geometry of a heart valve
US6598307B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 13, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 29, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 13, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2250/0097
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A sizer for assessing the geometry of a heart valve annulus including a handle portion for holding the sizer and a sizing portion. The sizing portion is preferably in the shape of an arch having an apex and two legs, each of which has a base adjoining the handle portion. The legs of the arched sizing portion are separated from each other by a predetermined distance that corresponds to the expected separation of commissures of a normal heart valve annulus. The height of the arch (measured from the base of each leg to the apex) corresponds to a predetermined leaflet height that approximates the expected height of a leaflet of a normal heart valve. For aortic valve reconstruction, the instrument is inserted into the opened aortic root following removal of the native valve tissue and is used to assess the distance between the commissures, the leaflet height, and the symmetry of the commissures of the exposed valve annulus.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.