Patent ID: 11931253
Assignee: 4C MEDICAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Field: Medical technology (Instruments)
Classification: CPC A | IPC A

Claim 0:
1. Apparatus comprising:
a stent frame forming;
an outer section defining an inner region;
a transition section defining a downstream edge of the stent frame;
an inner valve support section supported by the transition section and disposed within the inner region, wherein the inner valve support section defines an inner valve support that is configured to support prosthetic valve leaflets within the inner valve support; and
wherein the outer section and transition section comprise struts that define cells of the stent frame;

one or more attachment features comprising a shape and defined on or along one or more radially inwardly turning struts of the transition section; and
one or more tether assemblies, each tether assembly comprising:
a notched tube defining a lumen therethrough and a distal end including two flexible tabs; and
a wire slidingly received within the lumen of the notched tube, the wire including an enlarged distal element positioned at a wire distal end;, wherein:
each of the one or more attachment features are configured to releasably receive one of the tether assemblies;
each of the one or more tether assemblies is configured to form, in a first arrangement, a first unlocked position and, in a second arrangement, a second locked position;
when in the first unlocked position, the notched tube and the wire can be advanced through an opening defined by the attachment feature; and
after being advanced through the attachment feature, the notched tube and the wire are configured to transition from the first unlocked position to the second locked position, where, in the second locked position, the flexible tabs and enlarged distal element are prevented from being withdrawn through the opening.