Driver tool with multiple drive gear layers for heart prosthesis fasteners

摘要

A driver tool drives multiple fasteners simultaneously through the outer ring of a heart valve component into the surrounding tissue annulus of a heart. The driver tool includes two stacked satellite gear layers that drive flexible shafts that simultaneously drive the fasteners into tissue surrounding the heart valve component. The flexible shafts from the second drive gear layer can pass through gaps between satellite gears in the first drive gear layer. The number of fasteners is increased while maintaining the mechanical advantage of the tool and the size of the tool, and reducing the concentration of stress in the tissue annulus.