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:
Jan. 15, 2008
Filed:
Jan. 03, 2005
Xiangyang Zhang, Irvine, CA (US);
Melissa Denton, Irvine, CA (US);
Sanjay Shrivastava, Mountain View, CA (US);
Pranav Desai, Anaheim Hills, CA (US);
Xiangyang Zhang, Irvine, CA (US);
Melissa Denton, Irvine, CA (US);
Sanjay Shrivastava, Mountain View, CA (US);
Pranav Desai, Anaheim Hills, CA (US);
Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US);
Abstract
Methods for forming a support frame for flexible leaflet heart valves from a starting blank include converting a two-dimensional starting blank into the three-dimensional support frame. The material may be superelastic, such as NITINOL, and the method may include bending the 2-D blank into the 3-D form and shape setting it. A merely elastic material such as ELGILOY may be used and plastically deformed in stages, possibly accompanied by annealing, to obtain the 3-D shape. Alternatively, a tubular blank could be formed to define a non-tubular shape, typically conical. A method for calculating the precise 2-D blank shape is also disclosed. A mandrel assembly includes a mandrel and ring elements for pressing the blank against the external surface of the mandrel prior to shape setting.