The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 19, 2005
Filed:
Dec. 28, 2001
Steven D. Kruse, Bloomington, MN (US);
Chad Q. Cai, Woodbury, MN (US);
Steven D. Kruse, Bloomington, MN (US);
Chad Q. Cai, Woodbury, MN (US);
St. Jude Medical, Inc., St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
An improved method for testing a stent for a prosthetic valve includes applying a load with a fluid against a stented test structure in a backward direction with the stented test structure substantially blocking the flow of the fluid. The stented test structure includes a stent and a flexible membrane extending within the lumen defined by the stent with the flexible membrane having a plurality of contours connecting to the stent along the scallops. A corresponding testing apparatus includes a cyclic pressure applicator, a conduit connected to the cyclic pressure applicator, and a stented test structure mounted within the conduit to receive cyclic fluid pressures from the cyclic pressure applicator. The stented test structure includes a stent and a flexible membrane extending within the lumen defined by the stent. The flexible membrane substantially blocks flow of the fluid in a backward direction and does not fully open upon application of the fluid pressure in a forward direction.