Patent ID: 9277996
Filing Date: 2016-03-08
CPC Classification: A61B,A61F

Claim Text:
1. A heart valve sizer for determining an appropriate replacement prosthetic heart valve size when performing a valve replacement procedure comprising: a proximal handle having an actuator comprising an actuator ring mounted for rotation about the handle; a shaft extending distally from the proximal handle and having a movable member and a stationary member; a sizing element coupled to the distal end of the shaft, the sizing element having a hub and a plurality of petals each radially movable between a first retracted position and a second expanded position, the hub being fixed to the stationary member in the shaft and the petals being connected to expand radially upon displacement of the movable member in the shaft; and a clutch mechanism in the proximal handle connected between the actuator and the movable member in the shaft so as to transmit movement forces therebetween, the clutch mechanism including a clutch ring rotatably coupled to the actuator ring via a plurality of bearings movable with the clutch ring and biased by springs into detents in the actuator ring, wherein rotation of the actuator ring causes displacement of the movable member via the clutch ring and consequently outward radial expansion of the petals in the sizing element into contact with a surrounding heart valve annulus, wherein the clutch mechanism slips at a predetermined desired reaction force imparted by the heart valve annulus against further outward radial expansion of the petals.