Suture rings for heart valves

Claim 2

A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion, band means for securing the opposite ends of said fabric tube together, and deformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding said band means in permanent position, said deformable means being deformed from a first position adjacent said band means to a second permanent lock positon about said band means.

Claim 3

A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube, band means for securing the ends of said fabric tube to said retainer ring so that exposed surfaces of said retainer ring when it is locked onto said protrusion are fully covered by said fabric tube, said band means comprising a first band for securing one end of said fabric tube to said retainer ring and a second band for securing the other end of said fabric tube to said retianer ring, and deformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding at least said first band in permanent position.

Claim 4

A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube, band means for securing the ends of said fabric tube to said retainer ring so that exposed surfaces of said retainer ring when it is locked onto said protrusion are fully covered by said fabric tube, said band means comprising a first band for securing one end of said fabric tube to said retainer ring and a second band for securing the other end of said fabric tube to said retianer ring, and deformable means which forms a part of said retainer ring for holding at least said first band in permanent position.

Claim 5

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said deformable means comprises a first deformable retainer ring section for permanently positioning said first band and a second deformable retainer ring section for permanently positioning said second band.

Claim 6

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said deformable end portion provides means for permanently positioning one of said bands.

Claim 7

A suture ring according to claim 4 wherein said deformable end portion holds said one band in permanent position between the retainer ring and the valve body.

Claim 8

A suture ring according to claim 5 wherein said deformable end portion is permanently crimped to permanently position said one band.

Claim 9

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said first and second bands are rigid rings.

Claim 10

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said second end portion of said retainer ring is resiliently deformable so that said retainer ring may be snap-fit about said protrusion, said second end portion deforming outwardly as it is forced over said protrusion and thereafter returning inwardly to engage said second end surface of the protrusion.

Claim 11

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said fabric tube surrounds said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion with said band means holding opposite ends of said fabric tube together.

Claim 12

A suture ring in accordance with claim 9 wherein said retainer ring has tine means substantially encircling said band means.

Claim 13

A suture ring in accordance with claim 10 wherein said retainer ring has an outwardly extending flange, and said tine means are crimped to extend substantially to said flange.

Claim 14

A suture ring according to claim 2 wherein said deformable end portion of said retainer ring comprises a ring of deformable tangs.

Claim 15

In combination, a heart valve comprising a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing said passageway, and an annular groove around the valve body; a stiffener ring in interference fit within said groove, a portion of said stiffener ring extending outward of said groove to provide a protruding portion having first and second end surfaces; and a suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to fit about said protruding portion of said stiffener ring, radially inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface and a deformable end portion for engaging said second end surface to lock said retaining ring onto said stiffener ring, and a fabric member covering exposed surfaces of said retainer ring.

Claim 16

In combination, a heart valve comprising a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing said passageway, and an annular groove around the valve body; a stiffener ring in interference fit within said groove, a portion of said stiffener ring extending outward of said groove to provide a protruding portion having first and second end surfaces; and a suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to fit about said protruding portion of said stiffener ring, radially inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface and a deformable end portion for engaging said second end surface to lock said retaining ring onto said stiffener ring, and a fabric member covering exposed surfaces of said retainer ring.

Claim 17

A combination according to claim 13 wherein said fabric member is tubular and band means secure opposite ends of said tubular fabric member to said retainer ring.

Claim 18

A combination according to claim 14 wherein said retainer ring has a deformable section for holding said band means in association with said retainer ring.

Claim 19

A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion, band means for securing opposite ends of said fabric tube together with said fabric tube fully covering surfaces of said retainer ring, said retainer ring having deformable tine means and an outwardly extending flange, and said tine means being crimped to extend substantially to said flange to substantially encircle said band means.

Claim 20

A suture ring for a heart valve having a valve body providing a blood flow passageway, occluder means mounted within said valve body for opening and closing the passageway and a protrusion around the valve body having first and second end surfaces, the suture ring comprising a retainer ring having an interior surface proportioned to surround said protrusion, inwardly extending means for engaging said first end surface of the protrusion and a deformable end portion for engaging the second end surface to lock said retainer ring onto the protrusion, a fabric tube surrounding said retainer ring, said fabric tube being interposed between said retainer ring and said protrusion, band means for securing opposite ends of said fabric tube together with said fabric tube fully covering surfaces of said retainer ring, said retainer ring having deformable tine means and an outwardly extending flange, and said tine means being crimped to extend substantially to said flange to substantially encircle said band means.

Claim 21

A suture ring in accordance with claim 1 wherein said deformable means are a ring of tines substantially encircling said band means.

Claim 22

A suture ring in accordance with claim 17 wherein said retainer ring has an outwardly extending flange, and said tines are crimped to extend substantially to said flange.

Claim 23

A suture ring according to claim 1 wherein said second end portion of said retainer ring is resiliently deformable so that said retainer ring may be shap-fit about said protrusion, said second end portion deforming outwardly as it is forced over said protrusion and thereafter returning inwardly to engage said second end surface of the protrusion.

Claim 24

A suture ring according to claim 1 wherein said deformable end portion of said retainer ring comprises a ring of deformable tangs.