DEGENERATIVE VALVULAR DISEASE SPECIFIC ANNULOPLASTY RINGS

摘要

Annuloplasty rings optimallysized to take into account more of the commondegenerative valve pathologies. Each ring hasa structural ring body with a shape thatcomplies with predicted shapes of degenerativevalvular diseases, such as Fibroelastic deficiency(FED), Marfan's or Barlow's. The predictedshapes are obtained through carefulechocardiographic and intraoperative measurements,and often differ for different annulusorifice sizes. For instance, in mitral rings thelarger rings have larger minor axis and obliqueaxis dimensions relative to their major axisdimensions, and are more circular as opposed toD-shaped. The rings may also be three-dimensionaland the relative heights around the ringsmay change for different sized rings. A mitralring may have a higher anterior saddle relativeto a posterior saddle, with the relative heightsvarying across the ring sizes. The ring mayhave varying flexibility around the ringperiphery which also changes for different ringsizes. A bulge on the sewing cuff forms a stepon the outflow side for ease of suturing, whichmay be indicated by a suture line.