Patent ID: 8034102
Filing Date: 2011-10-11
Classification: A61F

Abstract:
1. A prosthetic ring for implantation externally around an aortic root of a patient, said aortic root defining a scalloped valve annulus, said valve annulus serving as attachment for three semilunar valve cusps within said aortic root, said aortic root spanning in height between a root base portion located in general proximity to a left ventricular outflow tract and a root sinotubular portion located in general proximity to a sinotubular junction, said valve cusps collectively defining three commissures at the junction of each of two adjacent cusps in proximity to said valve annulus, said prosthetic ring comprising: a space frame including a frame base portion and a frame upper portion spaced from the frame base portion, said space frame having a scalloped profile defining three trough sections at said frame base portion and three crest sections extending to said frame upper portion arranged circumferentially around a ring axis, said space frame defining a first diameter proximate said frame base portion, said space frame constructed to allow circumferential movement of said trough sections closer to one another such that said space frame defines a second diameter proximate said base portion, said second diameter being smaller than said first diameter, said space frame configured and sized for placement external to said aortic root so as to: 1) generally align said trough sections with said valve annulus at said root base portion, and 2) generally align said crest sections with said valve annulus in proximity to said commissures; an annulus-restraining member, said annulus-restraining member extending across at least one of said crest portions and generally proximate said frame base portion, and coupling at least two of said trough sections that are adjacent to each other, said space frame movable between a first ring configuration and a second ring configuration, in said first ring configuration said space frame assumes a substantially conical shape in which said crest sections are spaced closer to said ring axis than said trough sections, and in said second ring configuration said space frame assumes a substantially cylindrical shape in which said crest and trough sections are spaced generally equally away from said ring axis; whereby when said ring is in said second ring configuration said ring restrains the aortic root to a maximum dimension through action of said annulus-restraining member, and when said ring is transitioning between said second and first ring configurations the construction of said annulus-restraining member and allows substantially unhindered movement of said trough sections toward said ring axis in proximity to the root base portion, the substantially unhindered movement also resulting in the circumferential movement of said trough sections closer to one another thereby allowing said ring to regulate the dimension of said aortic root.