United States Surgical Corporation

Brian W Moulder

John C Robertson

Keith Ratcliff

Roberto Pedros

A surgical stapler for securing a prosthetic heart valve within a patient is disclosed and generally includes a first cylindrical portion for carrying a staple assembly on a distal end thereof, a second cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the first cylindrical portion and having a camming arm on a distal end thereof and a third cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the second cylindrical portion and having an anvil flange on a distal end thereof, the camming arm configured to cam the staple assembly radially outward and drive the staple assembly distally such that a first leg of the staple assembly penetrates a cuff of the prosthetic heart valve and a second leg of the staple assembly pierces a portion of heart tissue surrounding the prosthetic heart valve to secure the valve. A method of installing a heart valve within a patient utilizing the surgical stapler is also disclosed.

Stapling apparatus and method for heart valve replacement

A surgical stapler for securing a prosthetic heart valve within a patient generally includes a first cylindrical portion for carrying at least one staple assembly on a distal end thereof; a second cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the first cylindrical portion and having a camming arm on a distal end thereof, the camming arm configured to cam the at least one staple assembly radially outward and drive the at least one staple assembly distally such that a first leg of the at least one staple assembly penetrates a cuff of the prosthetic heart valve and a second leg of the at least one staple assembly pierces a portion of heart tissue surrounding the prosthetic heart valve, as the second cylindrical portion is moved distally relative to the first cylindrical portion; and a third cylindrical portion positioned concentrically about the second cylindrical portion and having an anvil flange on a distal end thereof, the anvil flange configured to crimp the second leg of the at least one staple assembly toward the first leg of the at least one staple assembly to secure the prosthetic heart valve to the surrounding heart tissue as the third cylindrical portion is moved relative to the second cylindrical portion. A method of installing a heart valve within a patient which includes the steps of accessing a site within a heart from which a natural heart valve has been removed; lowering a prosthetic heart valve into position within the site in the heart; positioning a surgical stapler having at least one staple assembly removably held on a distal end thereof adjacent the prosthetic heart valve within the site in the heart; driving a first leg of the at least one staple assembly through a peripheral cuff of the prosthetic heart valve; and crimping a second leg of the at least one staple assembly in a direction toward the first leg such that the second leg pierces a portion of heart tissue surrounding the prosthetic heart valve, thereby securing the prosthetic heart valve to the surrounding heart tissue.

There are disclosed various systems for installing a heart valve within a patient. In a first system, there are provided a heart valve installation assembly and an expandable heart valve ring installation assembly, each of which comprises a separate tool. The expandable heart valve ring assembly is provided to position and expand a heart valve ring into engagement with tissue. The valve installation assembly is provided to position and engage the heart valve with the expandable heart valve ring. In a second system, the heart valve installation assemblies and expandable ring installation assemblies are provided on a single tool or instrument. There are also disclosed various methods of installing an expandable heart valve ring within a heart and positioning and installing an artificial synthetic heart valve within the expanded heart valve ring.

Growing community of inventors

Seymour, CT, United States of America

Brian W Moulder