Patent ID: 8343028
Filing Date: 2013-01-01
Classification: A61B,A61M

Abstract:
1. A device adapted for creating a sealed connection at an opening in a wall of the heart, comprising: a conduit having an end and a longitudinal axis in an axial direction that fluid flows therethrough; a seal member having a sealing surface, attached to the end of the conduit, the seal member configured for moving between a folded position, wherein the seal member is smaller than the opening of the wall of the heart and the sealing surface is configured to be folded so as to pass through the opening of the wall of the heart, and radially away from the longitudinal axis to an open position wherein the seal member is configured to be expanded so that the seal member has a cross-dimension that is larger than a cross-dimension of the opening in the wall of the heart with the sealing surface configured to be positioned circumferentially around the opening of the wall of the heart, an introducer configured to be secured for movement between the first and second positions relative to the conduit, in the first position, the introducer configured for maintaining the seal member in the folded position to allow for insertion of the seal member through the opening in the wall of the heart and, in the second position, the introducer configured for allowing for expansion of the seal member so that the seal member has a cross-dimension that is larger than a cross-dimension of the opening in the wall of the heart, the introducer having at least one segment at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis; a locking mechanism that is radially movable from a position distant from the longitudinal axis to a position closer to the longitudinal axis, the radial movement of the locking mechanism against the at least one segment of the introducer causing the locking mechanism to move in a direction parallel to the axial direction; and a clamp component adapted to be positioned outside the heart, the clamp component configured to be moved by the locking mechanism in the axial direction relative to the seal member when the locking mechanism moves in the direction parallel to the axial direction, to produce a clamping force in the axial direction with the wall of the heart between the clamp component and the seal member so that a seal is created between the sealing surface of the seal member and an inner wall of the heart.