Patent ID: 6453062
Filing Date: 2002-09-17
Classification: G06T

Abstract:
A method for inspecting a heart valve assembly comprising the steps of:(a) placing a heart valve comprising a cuff and a leaflet assembly in a holder for inspection; (b) projecting an image of the heart valve onto an image receiver; (c) creating digital data from the image of the heart valve, said data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve; (d) providing digital data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the cuff of the heart valve and the leaflet assembly of the heart valve; (e) comparing the data representing the actual position of at least one component of the heart valve to the data representing the desired position of at least one component of the heart valve; and (f) using the comparison of data set forth in step (e) to verify at least one property of the heart valve selected from the group consisting of the type of heart valve, the size of the heart valve, and the style of the heart valve.