Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with the suturing ring disposed circumferentially of the wall, the valve including slip ring means interposed between the suturing ring and the wall and circumferential binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall, at least one of the binding means and slip ring means being heat-relaxed under controlled conditions to reduce the initial binding force of the binding means to thereby facilitate controlled rotational positioning of the valve body within the suturing ring.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with the suturing ring disposed circumferentially of the wall, the valve including slip ring means interposed between the suturing ring and the wall and circumferential binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall, at least one of the binding means and slip ring means being heat-relaxed under controlled conditions to reduce the initial binding force of the binding means to thereby facilitate controlled rotational positioning of the valve body within the suturing ring.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein the binding means comprises a plurality of circumferential wraps of a heat-relaxable polymeric cord.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
The heart valve of claim 2 including spaced flanges extending generally radially from the annular wall of the valve body and defining with the annular wall an annular groove, the slip ring means having edges spaced from confronting surfaces of the flanges to define annular spaces, the cord wraps securely retaining circumferential portions of the suturing ring within the annular spaces.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The heart valve of claim 3 wherein the cord wraps are of a polymeric material capable of elongating under tension at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 140° C., the material returning to a length greater than its original length upon cooling under tension to room temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The heart valve of claim 4 wherein the slip ring means comprises a single ring of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heart valve of claim 4 wherein the slip ring means comprises a pair of concentric slip rings having a mutual low-friction interface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
130 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall and spaced, annular flanges extending generally radially outwardly of the wall to define with the latter an annular groove, slip ring means disposed within the groove and having peripheral edges respectively spaced from confronting flanges to define annular spaces at the edges of the slip ring means, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall, the binding means including means securely retaining circumferential portions of the suturing ring within the annular spaces.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall and spaced, annular flanges extending generally radially outwardly of the wall to define with the latter an annular groove, slip ring means disposed within the groove and having peripheral edges respectively spaced from confronting flanges to define annular spaces at the edges of the slip ring means, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall, the binding means including means securely retaining circumferential portions of the suturing ring within the annular spaces.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The heart valve of claim 7 wherein the binding means comprises a plurality of circumferential cord wraps, at least one cord wrap adjacent each valve body flange tightly retaining a circumferential portion of the suturing ring within the adjacent annular groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heart valve of claim 7 wherein at least one of the binding means and the slip ring means is heat-relaxed to reduce the original binding force of the binding means and to thereby facilitate rotation of the valve body within the suturing ring.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the binding means comprises a polymeric cord wrapped to provide binding force binding the suturing ring and slip ring means and then heat-relaxed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the slip ring means comprises a single flattened ring of polytetrafluoroethylene.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the slip ring means comprises a pair of concentric slip rings having a mutual low-friction interface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the slip ring means comprises a rigid, stiff split ring having spaced ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 9 wherein the slip ring means comprises a rigid, stiff split ring with abutting ends.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for providing prosthetic devices such as heart valves with suturing rings within which the devices may be rotatably positioned, the method comprising binding a suturing ring to the prosthesis with heat-relaxable binding means, and controllably heating the binding means under predetermined conditions to at least partially relax the same and reduce the binding force exerted by it to facilitate rotation of the prosthesis.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
65 words
A method for providing prosthetic devices such as heart valves with suturing rings within which the devices may be rotatably positioned, the method comprising binding a suturing ring to the prosthesis with heat-relaxable binding means, and controllably heating the binding means under predetermined conditions to at least partially relax the same and reduce the binding force exerted by it to facilitate rotation of the prosthesis.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 15 including the step of interposing slip ring means between the suturing ring and the prosthesis prior to the heat-relaxation step.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall, slip ring means circumferentially mounted about the annular wall of the valve body, the slip ring means comprising at least one stiff, rigid ring having abutting ends, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
92 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall, slip ring means circumferentially mounted about the annular wall of the valve body, the slip ring means comprising at least one stiff, rigid ring having abutting ends, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heart valve of claim 17 in which the rigid, still slip ring is sapphire.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heart valve of claim 17 in which the stiff, rigid slip ring is pyrolytic carbon.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heart valve of claim 17 in which the stiff, rigid slip ring is of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
92 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall, slip ring means circumferentially mounted about the annular wall of the valve body, the slip ring means comprising at least one stiff, rigid ring having spaced ends, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
92 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring within which the valve body may be rotatably adjusted following suturing of the ring to a natural heart orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall, slip ring means circumferentially mounted about the annular wall of the valve body, the slip ring means comprising at least one stiff, rigid ring having spaced ends, a suturing ring carried circumferentially of the slip ring means, and binding means binding the suturing ring and slip ring to the valve body wall.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
15 words
The heart valve of claim 21 in which the stiff, rigid slip ring is sapphire.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The heart valve of claim 21 in which the stiff, rigid slip ring is pyrolytic carbon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
27 words
The heart valve of claim 21 in which the stiff, rigid slip ring is of a material selected from the group consisting of stainless steel and titanium.