METHODS OF DYNAMIC ANNULOPLASTY RING SIZING

摘要

A dynamic, adjustable annuloplasty ring sizer can include an adjustable ring replica, which can be adjusted through a range of sizes corresponding to available prosthetic annuloplasty repair ring sizes. Actuation of an adjustment trigger on a handle portion of the ring sizer can displace tension wires that extend through a malleable shaft and through a plurality of articulating segments that form the ring replica. Displacement of the tension wires causes flexion of the joints between adjacent articulating segments, thereby reducing the overall size of the ring replica. Releasing the tension wires can allow an elastic extension wire to act on the ring replica, enlarging the ring replica to its maximum, at-rest size. In this manner, the appropriate size of annuloplasty ring prosthesis can be determined with a single device, without requiring a plurality of static ring sizers that require individual insertion and placement for the conventional trial-and-error sizing methods.

主权项

1. A method for sizing a heart valve annulus, comprising:
preparing a sizing device including a proximal handle having an actuator, a shaft coupled to and extending in a distal direction from the handle, a generally C-shaped annuloplasty ring replica having a first free end and a second free end and coupled to a distal end of the shaft configured to be adjusted to a plurality of different sizes, the annuloplasty ring replica being elongated and defining a shape of the annulus being sized and being biased to a maximum size; reducing the size of the adjustable ring replica to less than the maximum size using the actuator; positioning the adjustable ring replica at or near a patient's native mitral valve or tricuspid valve annulus; increasing the size of the adjustable ring replica using the actuator until an outer surface contacts the valve annulus; and determining an appropriate size of prosthetic annuloplasty ring for the valve annulus.