Abstract
A prosthetic ring includes a core enclosed in a textile sheath, the sheath being sutured to the heart or the aorta of a patient. The core includes at least one relatively rigid portion and one portion that is relatively flexible compared to the rigid portion. The cross-sectional diameter of the core varies along the circumference of the ring, decreasing from a maximum at the rigid portion to a minimum at the flexible portion, giving the ring sufficient flexibility to accommodate heart wall movement.
Filing date: Aug 21, 1995
Issue date: Mar 4, 1997
Inventors: Jacques Seguin, Robert Rogier
Assignee: Jacques Seguin
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What is claimed is:
1. A prosthetic ring for at least one of mitral, tricuspid and aortic annuloplasty, comprising a core enclosed in a textile sheath, wherein:
- the sheath comprises a suturing means;
- the core is formed from a single material, the core comprises at least one relatively rigid portion and at least one flexible portion that is flexible relative to the rigid portion; and
- a cross-sectional area of the core varies along a circumference of the ring, the area decreasing from the rigid portion toward the flexible portion, allowing deformation of the ring in all planes passing through the ring.
2. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein at least one of a thickness and a height of the core decreases as the core area decreases.
3. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the core decreases asymmetrically with respect to a center of the core.
4. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the core decreases symmetrically with respect to a center of the core.
5. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the core is stepped along the circumference of the ring.
6. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the core is smooth along the circumference of the ring.
7. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the core is formed by molding a synthetic material.
8. The prosthetic ring of claim 7, wherein the synthetic material is a linear polyoxymethylene acetal resin.
9. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the core is formed of a titanium alloy.
10. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the core is assembled of at least two segments of material, one of the segments including the rigid portion of the core and another of the segments including the flexible portion of the core.
11. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, wherein the flexible portion of the core is reinforced by an insert of elastomeric material.
12. The prosthetic ring of claim 1, comprising a radiopaque element.
13. A ring intended for mitral annuloplasty, comprising:
- a sheath; and
- a core enclosed in the sheath;
- wherein the core has a shape generally in the form of a "D", the core is formed from a single piece of synthetic material and comprises a relatively rigid portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion is flexible relative to the rigid portion;
- the flexible portion is essentially opposite the rigid portion; and
- a cross-sectional area of the core varies from a maximum area at the stiffest portion of the core to a minimum area located essentially opposite a median part of the stiffest portion of the core.
14. A ring intended for tricuspid annuloplasty, comprising:
- a sheath; and
- a core enclosed in the sheath;
- wherein the core has an essentially ovoid shape, the core is formed from a single piece of synthetic material and comprises a relatively rigid portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion is flexible relative to the rigid portion;
- the flexible portion is situated essentially opposite the rigid portion; and
- a cross-sectional area of the core varies from a maximum area at the stiffest portion of the core to a minimum area located essentially opposite a median part of the stiffest portion of the core.
15. A ring intended for aortic annuloplasty, comprising
- a sheath; and
- a core enclosed in the sheath;
- wherein the core is formed from a single piece of synthetic material and the core includes three curved portions connected to each other by commissures substantially perpendicular to a plane of the ring;
- each curved portion comprising a relatively rigid portion and a flexible portion, wherein the flexible portion is flexible relative to the rigid portion; and
- a cross-sectional area of the core changes along the ring, the cross-sectional area is minimal at a median part of each of the curved portions, the median part of each curved portion forms the flexible portion, and the cross-sectional area increases in the direction of the commissures forming the rigid portion.
16. A prosthetic ring for at least one of mitral, tricuspid and aortic annuloplasty, comprising a core enclosed in a textile sheath, wherein:
- the sheath comprises a suturing means;
- the core is integrally formed of one piece, the core comprises at least one relatively rigid portion and at least one flexible portion that is flexible relative to the rigid portion; and
- a cross-sectional area of the core varies along a circumference of the ring, the area decreasing from the rigid portion toward the flexible portion, allowing deformation of the ring in all planes passing through the ring.