Patent ID: 7771469
Filing Date: 2010-08-10
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for affixing a prosthetic heart valve to tissue, comprising: attaching a prosthetic heart valve to a fixation band, the prosthetic heart valve comprising a frame having a longitudinal axis extending between a proximal end and a distal end, at least one leaflet adapted to open and close relative to said frame, and a sewing cuff attached to a proximal end of said frame, the fixation band being provided for affixing the prosthetic heart valve to tissue and comprising a plurality of longitudinally-extending members having a hook on its distal end and fixation means on its proximal end so as to form a tubular frame; and a tube positioned inside said longitudinally-extending members, with the distal end of said tube everted back over said hooks, and with a sewing cuff formed in said tube distal to the distalmost end of said longitudinally-extending members; wherein the prosthetic heart valve is attached to the fixation band by suturing the sewing cuff of the prosthetic heart valve to the sewing cuff of the fixation band so that the entirety of the prosthetic heart valve and said sewing cuffs are positioned distal to the tubular frame of the fixation band with the respective sewing cuffs adjacent to one another along the direction of said longitudinal axis; positioning the prosthetic heart valve at its valve seat with the prosthetic heart valve distal to the fixation band; and fixing the fixation band to tissue surrounding the valve seat.