Degenerative valvular disease specific annuloplasty rings

Abstract

Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as Fibroelastic deficiency (FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predicted shapes are obtained through careful echocardiographic and intraoperative measurements, and often differ for different annulus orifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings the larger rings have larger minor axis and oblique axis dimensions relative to their major axis dimensions, and are more circular as opposed to D-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensional and the relative heights around the rings may change for different sized rings. A mitral ring may have a higher anterior saddle relative to a posterior saddle, with the relative heights varying across the ring sizes. The ring may have varying flexibility around the ring periphery which also changes for different ring sizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a step on the outflow side for ease of suturing, which may be indicated by a suture line.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to medical devices for supporting and surgically correcting heart valves undergoing valvular regurgitation due to degenerative valvular disease. In particular, the present invention relates to annuloplasty ring prostheses in ring sets whose shape is especially adapted to the anatomy of various forms of degenerative mitral valve disease. Background technique [0002] The human heart has four valves: the aortic, mitral, pulmonary, and tricuspid valves. Various diseases and certain genetic defects of the heart valves can impair their normal function. Common defects and diseases affecting each of these valves and their treatments are generally different. [0003] see figure 1 and figure 2 , the mitral valve is a bilobed (or mitral) structure of connective tissue that separates the left atrium (LA) from the left ventricle (LV). The function of the mitral valve is to keep blood flowing in one direction, ie, from the atria ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, as explained below, the attachment of the annuloplasty ring sometimes leads to undesired consequences

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