Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
1 . An apparatus for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over a passageway disposed between the right chamber and the left chamber; and (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
136 words
1 . An apparatus for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over a passageway disposed between the right chamber and the left chamber; and (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the support base is substantially annular in shape.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a biocompatible synthetic material that forms at least one of the support base and the member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shape memory material that forms at least one of the support base and the member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the shape memory material further comprises a material that consists of at least one of a polymer, stainless steel, Nickel, Gold, Silver, Cadmium, Indium, Gallium, Manganese, Cobalt, Carbon, Nitrogen, Silicon, Germanium, Tin, Zinc, Niobium, Copper, Iron, Platinum, Thallium, Aluminum, Chromium, Antimony, Carbon, and a Titanium-Nickel alloy.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
6 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising an anti-clotting material that coats at least one of the support base and the member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
7 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the passageway is formed in tissue located in at least one of an interventricular septum, an interatrial septum, a membranous septum, and a fossa ovalis.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
8 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the base support further comprises a means for securing the device over the passageway.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
9 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the higher differential fluid pressure exceeds about 10 to about 20 mmHg if the passageway is disposed in an interatrial septal region.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
10 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the higher fluid pressure exceeds about 140 to about 170 mmHg if the passageway is located in at least one of an interventricular septal region, and a membranous septum.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a flap that is formed at an end of the passageway, wherein the free end of the member is disposed over and substantially parallel to the flap.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
150 words
12 . A system for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) a valve, comprising: (i) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over a passageway disposed between the right chamber and the left chamber; and (ii) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber opens the passageway and flexes the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway; and (b) a catheter means for positioning the valve over the passageway.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
150 words
12 . A system for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) a valve, comprising: (i) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over a passageway disposed between the right chamber and the left chamber; and (ii) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber opens the passageway and flexes the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway; and (b) a catheter means for positioning the valve over the passageway.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the support base and the member further comprises a biocompatible synthetic material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
14 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the support base and the member further comprises a shape memory material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
25 words
15 . The system of claim 12 , wherein at least one of the support base and the member is coated with an anti-clotting material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the passageway is formed in one of an interventricular septum, an interatrial septum, a membranous septum, and a fossa ovalis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
17 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the support base is secured over the passageway by at least one of sewing, clamping, pinning, gluing, and screwing.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the catheter further comprises a means for creating the passageway between the left chamber and the right chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
19 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the catheter further comprises a pusher for urging the valve out of the catheter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
37 words
20 . The system of claim 12 , further comprising a flap that is formed at an end of the passageway, wherein the free end of the member is disposed over and substantially parallel to the flap.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
169 words
21 . A method of controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) preparing a passageway between the left chamber and the right chamber, wherein the passageway enables fluid to flow between the left chamber and the right chamber; and (b) securing a valve over the passageway, wherein the valve includes: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over the passageway; and (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached towards a perimeter of the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
169 words
21 . A method of controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart, comprising: (a) preparing a passageway between the left chamber and the right chamber, wherein the passageway enables fluid to flow between the left chamber and the right chamber; and (b) securing a valve over the passageway, wherein the valve includes: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for positioning over the passageway; and (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached towards a perimeter of the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left chamber causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
152 words
22 . A valve for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left atrium and a right atrium of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for securing over a passageway in an interatrial septal region that is disposed between the right atrium and a corresponding left atrium; (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached towards a perimeter of the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the perimeter of the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left atrium causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the perimeter of the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
152 words
22 . A valve for controlling a differential fluid pressure between a left atrium and a right atrium of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for securing over a passageway in an interatrial septal region that is disposed between the right atrium and a corresponding left atrium; (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached towards a perimeter of the support base and a free end of the member is oriented away from the perimeter of the support base, and wherein a higher differential fluid pressure in the left atrium causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member towards the perimeter of the support base until a reduction in the differential fluid pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
23 . The valve of claim 22 , wherein the support base is substantially annular in shape.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
24 . The valve of claim 22 , wherein the substantially rigid member further comprises a shape memory material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
17 words
25 . The valve of claim 22 , wherein the valve is coated with an anti-clotting material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
26 . The valve of claim 22 , wherein the passageway is formed in tissue that comprises a foramen ovale.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
37 words
27 . The valve of claim 22 , further comprising a flap that is formed at an end of the passageway, wherein the free end of the member is disposed over and substantially parallel to the flap.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
137 words
28 . A valve for controlling a differential blood pressure between a left ventricle and a right ventricle of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for securing over a passageway in an interventricular septal region; (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented towards a center of the support base, and wherein a higher differential blood pressure in the left ventricle causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member away from the center of the support base until a reduction in the differential blood pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
137 words
28 . A valve for controlling a differential blood pressure between a left ventricle and a right ventricle of a heart, comprising: (a) a support base with a surface that is adapted for securing over a passageway in an interventricular septal region; (b) a substantially rigid member that extends substantially parallel to the passageway, wherein a fixed end of the member is attached to the support base and a free end of the member is oriented towards a center of the support base, and wherein a higher differential blood pressure in the left ventricle causes the passageway to open and flex the free end of the member away from the center of the support base until a reduction in the differential blood pressure enables a flexure of the free end of the member to close the passageway.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
29 . A valve for enabling a passageway to open between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart if a differential fluid pressure between the left chamber and the right chamber exceeds a pre-determined value.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
29 . A valve for enabling a passageway to open between a left chamber and a right chamber of a heart if a differential fluid pressure between the left chamber and the right chamber exceeds a pre-determined value.