Medtronic, Inc.

David L Kulcinski

Carol Elsa Eberhardt

Janice Lynn Shay

Carolyn C Majkrzak

Arin N Holecek

Luis A Salazar

Dana K Swanson

Gary T Tsuruta

Roxanna K Kendall

A method of assembling a prosthetic valve using sheets of material, such as pericardium material, polymer or bioengineered film, or other material. The method provides an accurate and repeatable system of making pericardial valves in which sheets or pieces of material are held securely in place relative to each other throughout the steps of assembling the valve. In addition, methods of the present invention include maintaining consistent alignment of the fixtures and pericardium material throughout the valve assembly process and utilize features that make the tooling components easy to assemble and handle. Certain aspects of the invention can be used to help establish a repeatable sewing and cutting technique for creating a pattern shape for valve leaflets, establishing stitch lengths, and determining the exact placement of stitches.

Methods and apparatuses for assembly of a pericardial prosthetic heart valve

A fresh donor tissue valve isolation annulus size comprising a handle and trigger or crank knob manipulated by the user moves a movable probe into proximity with a stationary probe so that the probes can be inserted into the tissue valve lumen. The user releases the trigger or crank, and a biasing mechanism urges the movable probe away from the stationary probe until the resistance presented by the valve annulus equals the biasing force. A gage coupled to the movable probe displays a measure of the valve annulus diameter as a function of the distance that the movable probe moves away from the stationary probe until restrained from further movement by the fresh tissue valve annulus.

Methods and apparatus for sizing fresh donor heart valves

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Orange, CA, United States of America

David L Kulcinski