Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring for suturing to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with upper and lower edges for receiving the suturing ring disposed circumferentially around the wall, the suturing ring further comprising: a biocompatible fabric tube of a mesh weave having interstices permeable to tissue ingrowth and first and second axial ends fastened into an annular shaped suturing ring body having an interior directed minor surface and an outward directed major surface adapted to be fitted against the exterior annular; means for fitting the interior directed surface of the annular shaped suturing ring body against the exterior annular wall leaving the outward directed major surface exposed with an upper ring shaped surface adjacent the upper edge of the valve body and a lower ring shaped surface adjacent the lower edge of the valve body and an intermediate band for being sutured through in attachment of the suturing ring to heart tissue; a first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface for filling the interstices of the mesh weave; and a second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface for filling the interstices of the mesh weave.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
211 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring for suturing to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with upper and lower edges for receiving the suturing ring disposed circumferentially around the wall, the suturing ring further comprising: a biocompatible fabric tube of a mesh weave having interstices permeable to tissue ingrowth and first and second axial ends fastened into an annular shaped suturing ring body having an interior directed minor surface and an outward directed major surface adapted to be fitted against the exterior annular; means for fitting the interior directed surface of the annular shaped suturing ring body against the exterior annular wall leaving the outward directed major surface exposed with an upper ring shaped surface adjacent the upper edge of the valve body and a lower ring shaped surface adjacent the lower edge of the valve body and an intermediate band for being sutured through in attachment of the suturing ring to heart tissue; a first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface for filling the interstices of the mesh weave; and a second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface for filling the interstices of the mesh weave.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
79 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein said fitting means further comprises 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 rotation positioning of the valve body within the suturing ring.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
98 words
The heart valve of claim 2 wherein: said upper edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a first circumferential gap; said lower edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a second circumferential gap; said first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface fills said first circumferential gap and the interstices of the mesh weave; and said second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface fills said second circumferential gap and the interstices of the mesh weave.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heart valve of claim 3 wherein: said first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface has a first pre-determined width; and said second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface has a second pre-determined width.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 4 wherein: said first and second impermeable layers comprise coatings of a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve of claim 5 wherein said polymer comprises a selected one of the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane, or collagen gel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
138 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said upper edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a first circumferential gap; said lower edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a second circumferential gap; said first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface fills said first circumferential gap and the interstices of the mesh weave to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said upper edge of said valve body; and said second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface fills said second circumferential gap and the interstices of the mesh weave to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said lower edge of said valve body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 7 wherein: said first and second impermeable layers comprise coatings of a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve of claim 8 wherein said polymer comprises a selected one of the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane, or collagen gel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heart valve of claim 7 wherein: said first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface has a first pre-determined width; and said second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface has a second pre-determined width.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The heart valve of claim 1 wherein: said first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface has a first pre-determined width; and said second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the lower ring shaped surface has a second pre-determined width.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
The heart valve of claim 11 wherein: said first and second impermeable layers comprise coatings of a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve of claim 12 wherein said polymer comprises a selected one of the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane, or collagen gel.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
182 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring for suturing to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with upper and lower edges for receiving the suturing ring disposed circumferentially around the wall, the suturing ring further comprising: a biocompatible fabric tube of a mesh weave having interstices permeable to tissue ingrowth and first and second axial ends fastened into an annular shaped suturing ring body having an interior directed minor surface and an outward directed major surface adapted to be fitted against the exterior annular; means for fitting the interior directed surface of the annular shaped suturing ring body against the exterior annular wall leaving the outward directed major surface exposed with an upper ring shaped surface adjacent the upper edge of the valve body and a lower ring shaped surface adjacent the lower edge of the valve body and an intermediate band for being sutured through in attachment of the suturing ring to heart tissue; and first means for rendering the upper ring shaped surface impermeable to tissue ingrowth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
182 words
An implantable heart valve having a valve body and an exterior suturing ring for suturing to a natural heart tissue orifice, the valve body having an exterior annular wall with upper and lower edges for receiving the suturing ring disposed circumferentially around the wall, the suturing ring further comprising: a biocompatible fabric tube of a mesh weave having interstices permeable to tissue ingrowth and first and second axial ends fastened into an annular shaped suturing ring body having an interior directed minor surface and an outward directed major surface adapted to be fitted against the exterior annular; means for fitting the interior directed surface of the annular shaped suturing ring body against the exterior annular wall leaving the outward directed major surface exposed with an upper ring shaped surface adjacent the upper edge of the valve body and a lower ring shaped surface adjacent the lower edge of the valve body and an intermediate band for being sutured through in attachment of the suturing ring to heart tissue; and first means for rendering the upper ring shaped surface impermeable to tissue ingrowth.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The heart valve of claim 14 further comprising; second means for rendering the lower ring shaped surface impermeable to tissue ingrowth.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 15 wherein: said first means further comprises a coating over said upper ring shaped surface of a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer. said second means further comprises a coating over said lower ring shaped surface of a biocompatible, non-biodegradable polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
The heart valve of claim 16 wherein said polymer comprises a selected one of the group consisting of silicon rubber, polyurethane, or collagen gel.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
72 words
The heart valve of claim 15 wherein: said lower edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a second circumferential gap; and said second rendering means comprises a second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the second ring shaped surface and filling said second circumferential gap to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said lower edge of said valve body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
72 words
The heart valve of claim 14 wherein: said upper edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface are separated by a first circumferential gap; and said first rendering means comprises a first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface and filling said first circumferential gap to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said upper edge of said valve body.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
141 words
The heart valve of claim 14 wherein: said fitting means comprises means separating said upper edge of said valve body and said upper ring shaped surface by a first circumferential gap and separating said lower edge of said valve body and said lower ring shaped surface by a second circumferential gap; and said first rendering means comprises a first impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the upper ring shaped surface and filling said first circumferential gap to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said upper edge of said valve body; and said second rendering means comprises a second impermeable layer of biocompatible material over the second ring shaped surface and filling said second circumferential gap to provide a smooth transition at the junction of the suturing ring and said lower edge of said valve body.