Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 59
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, and comprising a cryopreservable material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue, and is located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, and comprising a cryopreservable material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue, and is located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein the sewing ring comprises pericardium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's aorta and said leaflets comprise the donors aortic valve leaflets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's pulmonary artery and said leaflets comprise the donor's pulmonary valve leaflets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein the cryopreservable attachment component is selected from the group consisting of: a cryopreservable suture material; catgut suture material; suture material prepared from natural tissue; a cryopreservable adhesive; a biological adhesive; a fibrin glue; possible combinations thereof.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
33 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein the sewing ring comprises a tissue that is selected from the group of tissues consisting of: pericardium; dura mater; tendon sheath; fascia; and, possible combinations thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein the subvalvular lip has an upper portion formed substantially of connective tissue and a lower portion formed substantially of other than connective tissue, and wherein the homograft further comprises marking formed on the sewing ring to denote the location of said upper portion of the, subvalvular lip.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A homograft according to claim 1 wherein the subvalvular lip has been trimmed to provide a sewing ring of predetermined length and diameter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
146 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved; wherein the subvalvular lip has an upper portion formed substantially of connective tissue and a lower portion formed substantially of other than connective tissue, and wherein the homograft further comprises markings formed on the sewing ring to denote the location of said upper portion of the subvalvular lip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
146 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved; wherein the subvalvular lip has an upper portion formed substantially of connective tissue and a lower portion formed substantially of other than connective tissue, and wherein the homograft further comprises markings formed on the sewing ring to denote the location of said upper portion of the subvalvular lip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein the sewing ring comprises pericardium.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's aorta and said leaflets comprise the donor's aortic valve leaflets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's pulmonary artery and said leaflets comprise the donor's pulmonary valve leaflets.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
43 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein the cryopreservable attachment component is selected from the group consisting of: a cryopreservable suture material; catgut suture material; suture material prepared from natural tissue; a cryopreservable adhesive; a biological adhesive; a fibrin glue; possible combinations thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
33 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein the sewing ring comprises a tissue that is selected from the group of tissues consisting of: pericardium; dura mater; tendon sheath; fascia; and, possible combinations thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein the sewing ring further comprises cryopreservable material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
A homograft according to claim 15 wherein the cryopreservable material captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue is located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
A homograft according to claim 9 wherein the subvalvular lip has been trimmed to provide a sewing ring of predetermined length and diameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
115 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the Inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved; wherein the subvalvular lip has been trimmed to provide a sewing ring of predetermined length and diameter.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
115 words
A cryopreserved heart valve homograft comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue harvested from a mammalian donor, said tubular segment having an inflow end and an outflow end and a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the Inflow end, the inflow end of said tubular segment being trimmed to form a subvalvular lip; and, a sewing ring formed of tissue harvested from a human donor, said sewing ring being attached by a cryopreservable attachment component to said subvalvular lip; said tubular segment having said sewing ring attached thereto being cryopreserved; wherein the subvalvular lip has been trimmed to provide a sewing ring of predetermined length and diameter.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein the sewing ring comprises pericardium.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's aorta and said leaflets comprise the donor's aortic valve leaflets.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's pulmonary artery and said leaflets comprise the donor's pulmonary valve leaflets.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein the cryopreservable attachment component is selected from the group consisting of: a cryopreservable suture material; catgut suture material; suture material prepared from natural tissue; a cryopreservable adhesive; a biological adhesive; a fibrin glue; possible combinations thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
33 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein the sewing ring comprises a tissue that is selected from the group of tissues consisting of: pericardium; dura mater; tendon sheath; fascia; and, possible combinations thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
26 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein the sewing ring further comprises cryopreservable material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
31 words
A homograft according to claim 24 wherein the cryopreservable material captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue is located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A homograft according to claim 18 wherein the subvalvular lip has an upper portion formed substantially of connective tissue and a lower portion formed substantially of other than connective tissue, and wherein the homograft further comprises marking formed on the sewing ring to denote the location of said upper portion of the subvalvular lip.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
115 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue that has an inflow end and an outflow end; a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end such that a subvalvular lip exists at the inflow end of the tubular segment beneath the valve leaflets; and, a sewing ring that has been attached to and extends at least partially about the subvalvular lip of said tubular segment, said sewing ring comprising sewing ring tissue that has been harvested from a mammalian donor; wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's aorta and said leaflets comprise the donor's aortic valve leaflets.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
115 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue that has an inflow end and an outflow end; a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end such that a subvalvular lip exists at the inflow end of the tubular segment beneath the valve leaflets; and, a sewing ring that has been attached to and extends at least partially about the subvalvular lip of said tubular segment, said sewing ring comprising sewing ring tissue that has been harvested from a mammalian donor; wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's aorta and said leaflets comprise the donor's aortic valve leaflets.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the sewing ring comprises a strip of pericardium that has been attached to the subvalvular lip of the generally tubular segment.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
41 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein at least the tubular segment and the leaflets were harvested from a donor of the same species as the recipient into whom the stentless heart valve homograft is to be implanted.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the sewing ring comprises tissue that was harvested from a donor of the same species as the recipient into whom the stentless heart valve homograft is to be implanted.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the sewing ring comprises a tissue that is selected from the group of tissues consisting of: pericardium; dura mater; tendon sheath; fascia; and, possible combinations thereof.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 formed entirely of biological tissue that is cryopreservable.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
53 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the sewing ring is attached to said subvalvular tissue lip by a cryopreservable attachment component selected from the group consisting of: a cryopreservable suture material; suture material prepared from natural tissue; a cryopreservable adhesive; a biological adhesive; a fibrin glue; possible combinations thereof.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the biological tissue thereof is preserved by chemical fixation.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 27 wherein the sewing ring further comprises a quantity of material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 35 wherein the material captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue is sized and located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
14 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 27 formed entirely of cryopreservable material.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
13 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 37 which has been cryopreserved.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 38 wherein the bioprosthesis is a heterograft formed of tissue harvested from a non-human species.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 39 wherein the animal from which the tissue is harvested was genetically engineered to produce tissue suitable for transplantation into a human recipient without substantial immunogenic rejection.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
116 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue that has an inflow end and an outflow end; a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end such that a subvalvular lip exists at the inflow end of the tubular segment beneath the valve leaflets; and, a sewing ring that has been attached to and extends at least partially about the subvalvular lip of said tubular segment, said sewing ring comprising sewing ring tissue that has been harvested from a mammalian donor; wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's pulmonary artery and said leaflets comprise the donor's pulmonary valve leaflets.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
116 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis comprising: a generally tubular segment of vascular tissue that has an inflow end and an outflow end; a plurality of valve leaflets disposed within said tubular segment a spaced distance above the inflow end such that a subvalvular lip exists at the inflow end of the tubular segment beneath the valve leaflets; and, a sewing ring that has been attached to and extends at least partially about the subvalvular lip of said tubular segment, said sewing ring comprising sewing ring tissue that has been harvested from a mammalian donor; wherein said generally tubular segment comprises a segment of the donor's pulmonary artery and said leaflets comprise the donor's pulmonary valve leaflets.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein the sewing ring comprises a strip of pericardium that has been attached to the subvalvular lip of the generally tubular segment.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
41 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein at least the tubular segment and the leaflets were harvested from a donor of the same species as the recipient into whom the stentless heart valve homograft is to be implanted.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
39 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein the sewing ring comprises tissue that was harvested from a donor of the same species as the recipient into whom the stentless heart valve homograft is to be implanted.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
36 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein the sewing ring comprises a tissue that is selected from the group of tissues consisting of: pericardium; dura mater; tendon sheath; fascia; and, possible combinations thereof.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
17 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 formed entirely of biological tissue that is cryopreservable.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
53 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 46 wherein the sewing ring is attached to said subvalvular tissue lip by a cryopreservable attachment component selected from the group consisting of: a cryopreservable suture material; suture material prepared from natural tissue; a cryopreservable adhesive; a biological adhesive; a fibrin glue; possible combinations thereof.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
19 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein the biological tissue thereof is preserved by chemical fixation.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
31 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 41 wherein the sewing ring further comprises a quantity of material that is captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stentless heart valve bioprosthesis according to claim 49 wherein the material captured between the subvalvular lip and said sewing ring tissue is sized and located to impart a desired shape to said sewing ring.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
14 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 41 formed entirely of cryopreservable material.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
13 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 51 which has been cryopreserved.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
23 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 52 wherein the bioprosthesis is a heterograft formed of tissue harvested from a non-human species.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
35 words
A stentless heart valve prosthesis according to claim 53 wherein the animal from which the tissue is harvested was genetically engineered to produce tissue suitable for transplantation into a human recipient without substantial immunogenic rejection.