An assembly for holding a substantially flexible suture guide of predetermined length in a substantially taut position used to achieve a suture line having a dimension equal to the length of the suture guide, such as the circumference about a heart valve annulus. The assembly includes a rigid suture guide holder having a surface against which the length of suture guide is releasably positioned. The guide holder can have a shape or geometry, such as a circumference or circumferential segment, equivalent to the shape or geometry of the intended suture line. The shape of the guide holder can therefore be selected to hold the suture guide in the shape most advantageous to placing the desired suture line. The assembly further includes a mechanism for releasably binding the suture guide to the surface of the holder and a detachable handle extendibly attached to the holder by means of a lanyard so that the handle can be detached to afford an unobstructed view of the surgical site, but cannot be removed from the surgical site until the holder has also been removed.

Claims

55 · 3 independent · depth 8

55 granted claims

›1.independentA holder in combination with an annuloplasty ring, comprising: an annuloplasty ring; a rigid body defining at least a partial circumferential edge abo…+18

›2.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the plurality of cutting guides are evenly spaced about the rigid body circumferential edge so that the annuloplas…d2

›3.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the rigid body is generally formed in a plane, and the cutting guides extend generally normal to the plane.d2+3

›7.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, further including apertures formed in the circumferential edge and disposed so that the sutures extend generally from the …d2

›8.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the rigid body comprises a planar member extending generally in a plane within the circumferential edge, and where…d2+6

›15.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge is a groove.d2

›16.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge is a trough.d2

›17.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge is a depression.d2

›18.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge is a channel.d2

›19.↳ 1The combination of claim 1, wherein the circumferential edge is generally flat.d2

›20.independentA substantially rigid holder in combination with an annuloplasty ring, comprising: a flexible annuloplasty ring; a body having an outer edge for holdi…+24

›21.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, wherein the thread guide includes a raised platform having the thread supporting surface and the cutting guide groove.d2

›22.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, wherein the thread guide includes a second groove receiving the thread, the second groove being defined by surfaces including …d2+2

›25.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, wherein an end of the cutting guide groove is closed to stop movement of the tool in an insertion direction.d2

›26.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, further including: a plurality of apertures formed in the outer edge; a plurality of the thread guides formed in the body adja…d2+2

›29.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, further including a ring mounting surface, the annuloplasty ring being tautly positioned against the ring mounting surface by …d2+2

›32.↳ 20The holder of claim 20, further including a handle coupled to the body and formed to be gripped during the placement of sutures through the annuloplas…d2+7

›40.↳ 20The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer edge is a groove.d2

›41.↳ 20The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer edge is a trough.d2

›42.↳ 20The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer edge is a depression.d2

›43.↳ 20The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer edge is a channel.d2

›44.↳ 20The combination of claim 20, wherein the outer edge is generally flat.d2

›45.independentA holder in combination with an annuloplasty ring, comprising: an annuloplasty ring; a body having an outer circumferential edge shaped to match the s…+10

›46.↳ 45The holder of claim 45, wherein the plurality of cutting guides are evenly spaced about the rigid body circumferential edge so that the annuloplasty r…d2

›47.↳ 45The holder of claim 45, further including a handle coupled to the body and formed to be gripped during the placement of sutures through the annuloplas…d2+3

›51.↳ 45The combination of claim 45, wherein the circumferential edge is a groove.d2

›52.↳ 45The combination of claim 45, wherein the circumferential edge is a trough.d2

›53.↳ 45The combination of claim 45, wherein the circumferential edge is a depression.d2

›54.↳ 45The combination of claim 45, wherein the circumferential edge is a channel.d2

›55.↳ 45The combination of claim 45, wherein the circumferential edge is generally flat.d2

Classifications

2 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

623/2.11623/904

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2.8 y

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David H. Willse

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