ANNULOPLASTY RING WITH VARIABLE CROSS-SECTION

摘要

An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The ring is more flexible in bending about radially extending axes than about the central axis. The ring may have an inner structural support covered by a pliable sleeve and/or a fabric tube. The structural support may have a varying cross-section, such as a C-shaped cross-section in a mid-section between two free ends and a rectangular cross-section at the free ends. A deliver template having a mounting ring with about the same shape as the ring facilitates implant, and may be releasably attached to a delivery handle. The deliver template may include a plurality of cutting guides for releasably attaching the annuloplasty ring thereto while presenting maximum outer surface area of the ring. The template may have an outwardly-facing groove to receive and retain the ring.

主权项

1. An annuloplasty ring, comprising:
a ring body comprising an inner single piece metallic structural support surrounded by a suture permeable interface, the ring body surrounding a central open area through which passes a flow axis and being discontinuous so as to define two free ends at a break in continuity around a periphery of the ring body, wherein the ring body has a relaxed configuration following a three-dimensional path that conforms to a valve annulus, wherein the structural support has two free ends and a radial cross-section that gradually changes around its length and is partly C-shaped in a mid-portion, and wherein the two free ends are rectangular in radial cross-section and are more flexible in bending about the axis than the C-shaped part of the cross-section.