US7318278B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of manufacture of a heart valve support frame
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp
•
Filing: 2005-01-03
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Granted: 2008-01-15
•
Expires: 2025-01-03
Abstract
Abstract Methods for forming a support frame for flexible leaflet heart valves from a starting blank include converting a two-dimensional starting blank into the three-dimensional support frame. The material may be superelastic, such as NITINOL, and the method may include bending the 2-D blank into the 3-D form and shape setting it. A merely elastic material such as ELGILOY may be used and plastically deformed in stages, possibly accompanied by annealing, to obtain the 3-D shape. Alternatively, a tubular blank could be formed to define a non-tubular shape, typically conical. A method for calculating the precise 2-D blank shape is also disclosed. A mandrel assembly includes a mandrel and ring elements for pressing the blank against the external surface of the mandrel prior to shape setting.
Inventors
- 👤 Xiangyang Zhang
- 👤 Melissa Denton
- 👤 Sanjay Shrivastava
- 👤 Pranav Desai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 17:43
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2412; A61F2/2418; A61F2/2415; A61F2220/00; A61F2220/0025; A61F2220/0075; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T29/00; Y10T29/49; Y10T29/49405; Y10T29/49826; Y10T29/49863; Y10T29/49865; Y10T29/49885; Y10T29/49895; Y10T29/49904; Y10T29/49906; Y10T29/49995
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of forming a heart valve support frame, comprising: providing a heart valve support frame having an undulating shape with three cusps and three commissures; and electropolishing the heart valve support frame by twice rotating the heart valve support frame 120° from an initial position during the electropolishing process to ensure symmetric material removal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of forming a heart valve support frame, comprising: providing a heart valve support frame having an undulating shape with three cusps and three commissures; and electropolishing the heart valve support frame by twice rotating the heart valve support frame 120° from an initial position during the electropolishing process to ensure symmetric material removal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heart valve support frame is metallic and has a rectilinear cross-section.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the heart valve support frame is made of NITINOL.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: prior to electropolshing, first removing oxidation from an outer surface of the heart valve support frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of removing oxidation comprises microblasting the outer surface of the heart valve support frame.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of electropolishing comprises: submerging the heart valve support frame into a conductive fluid bath; providing an anode and a cathode; and flowing a current between the anode and the cathode to electropolish the heart valve support frame.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the step of providing an anode comprises positioning plate anodes within the conductive fluid bath around the heart valve support frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive fluid bath comprises nitric acid and methanol.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive fluid bath is maintained at a temperature of between about −28 to −32° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the conductive fluid bath is maintained at a conductivity level of between about 140-190 μs at 23° C.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein the current flows at a voltage of between about 9-10 V.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein each commissure is formed by a pair of generally asymptotic regions projecting from the adjacent cusps and a tip region, the method further comprising holding the heart valve support frame at three of the asymptotic regions.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of forming a heart valve support frame, comprising: providing a heart valve support frame having an undulating shape with three cusps separated by three commissures; submerging the heart valve support frame into a conductive fluid bath; within the conductive fluid bath, holding the heart valve support frame at discrete points around the undulating shape; providing an anode and a cathode and flowing a current between the anode and the cathode to electropolish the heart valve support frame within the conductive fluid bath; and twice rotating the heart valve support frame 120° from an initial position during the electropolishing process to ensure symmetric material removal.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of forming a heart valve support frame, comprising: providing a heart valve support frame having an undulating shape with three cusps separated by three commissures; submerging the heart valve support frame into a conductive fluid bath; within the conductive fluid bath, holding the heart valve support frame at discrete points around the undulating shape; providing an anode and a cathode and flowing a current between the anode and the cathode to electropolish the heart valve support frame within the conductive fluid bath; and twice rotating the heart valve support frame 120° from an initial position during the electropolishing process to ensure symmetric material removal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the heart valve support frame is made of NITINOL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the step of providing an anode comprises positioning plate anodes within the conductive fluid bath around the heart valve support frame.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising: holding the heart valve support frame at just three points around the undulating shape.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein each commissure is formed by a pair of generally asymptotic regions projecting from the adjacent cusps and a tip region, the method further comprising: holding the heart valve support frame at three of the asymptotic regions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2011-01-14 | 2011-07-16 | 2012-01-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2015-01-14 | 2015-07-16 | 2016-01-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2019-01-14 | 2019-07-16 | 2020-01-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |