GRAFT VALVE TRANSPLANTATION FOR HUMAN HEARTS AND GRAFT-SUPPORT RING THEREFOR

摘要

1,253,442. Heart valve grafts. CUTTER LABORATORIES Inc. 14 Feb., 1969 [3 May, 1968], No. 8161/69. Heading A5R. A surgical graft support ring for cardiac valve transplantation comprises an annular rigid frame having spaced projections extending from the frame, and a fabric cover completely enclosing the frame. The frame comprises three regularly spaced projections 35 separated by reliefs 36 each conforming to a conical surface projecting in one direction from the frame and three regularly spaced struts separated by depressions 34 each conforming to another conical surface extending in the opposite direction to the first. The ring is preferably made in one piece of titanium and the fabric is knitted tetrafluorethelene with thickened edges 52 and 53 following the edges of the ring and a thickened edge 54 following the reliefs 36 and extending across the struts 35. In use, the ring is secured to the heart and the heart valve graft by sutures attached to the thickened edges of the fabric.