Patent ID: 6197053
Filing Date: 2001-03-06
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
A holding apparatus for facilitating the surgical implantation of a heart valve prosthesis of the type having, i) a generally tubular prosthesis body having an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal end, a distal end, an inflow annulus at the proximal end thereof, and ii) a plurality of valving members disposed within the prosthesis body to perform a hemodynamic valving function, the holding apparatus comprising:a hub member positionable adjacent the distal end of the prosthesis bodya plurality of circumferentially distributed elongate strut members having proximal ends and distal ends, the distal end being attached to the hub member and being sized to extend proximally therefrom to the proximal end of the valve to define a hollow prosthesis retention space within the strut members and proximal to the hub member;at least one suture thread adapted to connect the inflow end of the prosthesis to the proximal ends of the strut members to hold the prosthesis within the prosthesis retention space, the strut members being circumferentially distributed such that a force applied in the proximal direction to the hub member of the holding apparatus will be transferred through the strut members to the prosthesis, thereby resulting in the application of a proximally directed pulling force distributed about the inflow annulus of the prosthesis, a portion of the suture thread being located upon the holding apparatus at a first location which is sufficiently accessible during the implantation procedure to permit cutting of the suture thread at the first location, thereby causing the prosthesis to be disconnected from the holding apparatus such that the holding apparatus may be subsequently extracted and removed, leaving the heart valve prosthesis in place;a cutting instrument retention notch formed in the holding apparatus at the first location; andthe cutting instrument retention notch being sized to permit a cutting instrument to be inserted thereinto for the purpose of cutting of the suture thread at the first location.