Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8187323 | Valve to myocardium tension members device and method A device for heart valve repair including at least one tension member having a first end and second end. A basal anchor is disposed at the first end of the tension member and a secondary anchor at the second end. The method includes the steps of anchoring the basal ... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8172898 | Device and method for modifying the shape of a body organ An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8163012 | Multi-planar tricuspid annuloplasty ring A multi-planar annuloplasty ring for implantation adjacent to the tricuspid valve with a gap adjacent to the apex of the triangle of Koch. The anterior part of the ring body extending from the highest point at the anteroseptal commissure down to a lower plane at the... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163011 | Intra-annular mounting frame for aortic valve repair An intra-annular mounting frame for an aortic valve having native aortic cusps is provided which includes a frame body with native leaflet reorienting curvatures and interconnecting points; the curvatures shaped to be received inside the valve below the native aorti... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8163013 | Devices, systems, and methods for reshaping a heart valve annulus, including the use of magnetic tools Implants or systems of implants and methods apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants and methods make possible ra... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8152844 | Quick-release annuloplasty ring holder A holder for an annuloplasty ring having a template defining a proximal face opposite the distal face, and a peripheral edge about which the annuloplasty ring conforms. The annuloplasty ring anchors to the template using one or more flexible filaments. The template ... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8142494 | Devices, systems, and methods for retaining a native heart valve leaflet Devices, systems and methods retain a native heart valve leaflet to prevent retrograde flow. The devices, systems, and methods employ an implant that, in use, rests adjacent a valve annulus and includes a retaining structure that is sized and shaped to overlay at le... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8142493 | Method of heart valve repair Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty. ... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8123802 | Saddle-shaped mitral valve annuloplasty prostheses with asymmetry, and related methods A mitral valve annuloplasty prosthesis (ring or C) has a generally saddle shape, i.e., portions of the prosthesis that are or will be adjacent the anterior and posterior commissures of the valve are relatively low as compared to at least some other portions of the p... | 02/28/2012 |
| 8114155 | Annuloplasty ring with offset free ends An annuloplasty ring having a three-dimensional discontinuous form generally arranged about an axis with two free ends that are axially offset. The ring is particularly suited for repair of the tricuspid valve, and more closely conforms to the annulus shape. The rin... | 02/14/2012 |
| 8105376 | Annuloplasty band and holder An annuloplasty band comprising a sheath, and a generally arcuate stiffening element disposed within the sheath. The stiffening element extends from a first end to a second end, and preferably includes eyelets at its first and second ends adapted to receive sutures ... | 01/31/2012 |
| 8100964 | Heart valve repair apparatus and methods Valve repair apparatus and methods for ensuring proper coaptation and operation of the leaflets of a heart valve. Main aspects of the disclosure relate to devices including a support member configured for attachment to the heart valve annulus, a post extending from ... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8092525 | Heart valve implant A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collap... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8070804 | Apparatus and methods for heart valve repair Embodiments of a medical device and methods for percutaneously treating a heart valve. In one embodiment, the medical device has a first catheter body suitable for percutaneous advancement to a heart region, a support annulus disposed within the first catheter body,... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070803 | Universal annuloplasty system A holder for an annuloplasty ring is disclosed. It comprises a plurality of linked-together suture platforms, wherein said holder comprises an upper face, a lower face, and a closed peripheral edge with means for accommodating and supporting said suture platforms of... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8070805 | Devices and methods for heart valve treatment Devices and methods for treating heart valves include members that assist the valve in closing during at least a portion of the cardiac cycle. Such devices include members configured to alter the shape of a valve annulus, reposition at least one papillary muscle, an... | 12/06/2011 |
| 8052751 | Annuloplasty rings for repairing cardiac valves Implantable devices and methods for the repair of a defective cardiac valve are provided. The implantable devices include an annuloplasty ring and a restraining and/or a remodeling structure or mechanism. The annuloplasty ring functions to reestablish the normal siz... | 11/08/2011 |
| 8034103 | Annuloplasty prosthesis with an auxetic structure An annuloplasty prosthesis including an inner tubular member having a lateral wall and exhibiting auxetic behavior when subject to a tensile stress along the longitudinal axis of at least one of its portions. The auxetic behavior may be obtained by perforating the t... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8034102 | Aortic annuloplasty ring An annuloplasty ring to resize a dilated aortic root during valve sparing surgery includes a scalloped space frame having three trough sections connected to define three crest sections. The annuloplasty ring is mounted outside the aortic root, and extends in height ... | 10/11/2011 |
| 8016882 | Devices, systems, and methods for supplementing, repairing, or replacing a native heart valve leaflet An implant for supplementing, repairing, or replacing a native heart valve leaflet or leaflets provides a scaffold, which defines a pseudo-annulus. The implant further has at least two struts in generally oppositely spaced apart positions on the scaffold. The scaffo... | 09/13/2011 |
| 8012202 | Mitral valve ring for treatment of mitral valve regurgitation An active bodily ring having a housing adapted to be sutured to a bodily component and a loop disposed in the housing, the loop capable of actively expanding and compressing during the bodily components normal function. The housing defines a first chamber and a seco... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7993396 | Mitral valve annuloplasty ring having an offset posterior bow A mitral heart valve annuloplasty ring having a posterior bow that conforms to an abnormal posterior aspect of the mitral annulus. The ring may be generally oval having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the posterior bow may be centered along the minor axis or ... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7993395 | Set of annuloplasty devices with varying anterior-posterior ratios and related methods Described is a set of at least two annuloplasty devices having a particular size that corresponds to an inter-trigonal or inter-commissural distance of a heart valve annulus, wherein the at least two annuloplasty devices have different anterior-posterior ratios. Als... | 08/09/2011 |
| 7988725 | Segmented ring placement Apparatus is provided for repairing a valve of a heart of a patient which includes an annulus and at least first and second leaflets. The apparatus includes an annuloplasty structure, a plurality of tissue anchors, and a plurality of flexible longitudinal guide memb... | 08/02/2011 |
| 7981152 | Vascular delivery system for accessing and delivering devices into coronary sinus and other vascular sites A method for placing a device into a target vasculature. The method comprises accessing the target vasculature with an access guide catheter to sub-select a proximal portion of the target vasculature. A rail catheter is tracked into the access guide catheter to plac... | 07/19/2011 |
| 7959673 | Degenerative valvular disease specific annuloplasty rings Annuloplasty rings optimally sized to take into account more of the common degenerative valve pathologies. Each ring has a structural ring body with a shape that complies with predicted shapes of degenerative valvular diseases, such as fibroelastic deficiency (FED),... | 06/14/2011 |
| 7955385 | Device, system, and method for aiding valve annuloplasty A device comprising a reference ring that may be temporarily disposed in abutment with the inferior perimeter surface of a heart valve to aid non-optical visualization of the valve annulus. The reference ring is elastically transformable between a straight delivery ... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7951196 | Annuloplasty ring for mitral valve prolapse A mitral annuloplasty ring that has an outward and an upward posterior bow. The ring defines a closed, modified oval shape with a minor-major axis dimension ratio of between about 3.3:4 to 4:4. The ring is made of a material that will substantially resist distortion... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7942928 | Valve aptation assist device An apparatus including a tether, and an aptation device coupled to the tether at a position corresponding to a location to contact cusps of an atrioventricular valve during systole, wherein the tether and aptation device are suitable for percutaneous delivery to a p... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7938856 | Heart valve annuloplasty prosthesis sewing cuffs and methods of making same An annuloplasty prosthesis for a heart valve has a sewing cuff added to the conventional structure. The sewing cuff is preferably an extension of the fabric cover that is provided around the core of the prosthesis. The sewing cuff preferably extends radially outward... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7935145 | Annuloplasty ring for ischemic mitral valve insuffuciency A remodeling mitral annuloplasty ring with a reduced anterior-to-posterior dimension to restore coaptation between the mitral leaflets in mitral valve insufficiency (IMVI). The ring has a generally oval shaped body with a major axis perpendicular to a minor axis, bo... | 05/03/2011 |
| 7931685 | Method and system for treatment of regurgitating heart valves A system and process for correction of regurgitation of heart valves. With mitral valves in particular, the anterior leaflet is advanced through use of a D-plasty patch and a narrow annuloplasty ring which compresses the lateral dimension of the valve. Other specifi... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7931684 | Minimally-invasive annuloplasty repair segment delivery system An annuloplasty repair segment and template for heart valve annulus repair. The elongate flexible template may form a distal part of a holder that also has a proximal handle. Alternatively, the template may be releasably attached to a mandrel that slides within a de... | 04/26/2011 |
| 7927370 | Valve aptation assist device An apparatus including a tether, and an aptation device coupled to the tether at a position corresponding to a location to contact cusps of an atrioventricular valve during systole, wherein the tether and aptation device are suitable for percutaneous delivery to a p... | 04/19/2011 |
| 7922763 | Apparatus for restoring aortic valve and treatment method using thereof The present invention is an apparatus designed to effectuate restoration of normal aortic valvular function where there is aortic valvular regurgitation, either primary or secondary to diseases of the aorta, such as aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, rheumatic aort... | 04/12/2011 |
| 7914576 | Apparatus and methods for repair of a cardiac valve An apparatus for repairing a cardiac valve includes an annuloplasty ring having an expandable support member with oppositely disposed proximal and distal end portions and a main body portion between the end portions. The proximal end portion includes a plurality of ... | 03/29/2011 |
| 7879087 | Mitral and tricuspid annuloplasty rings A mitral annuloplasty ring with an inner core and an outer band located therearound is disclosed. The ring has an anterior region, a posterior region opposite the anterior region, and two side regions therebetween. A cross-sectional width dimension of the outer band... | 02/01/2011 |
| 7842085 | Annuloplasty ring and holder combination An annuloplasty ring and ring holder combination includes a generally triangular-shaped ring and a generally T-shaped holder. The ring holder has a base portion forming the top of the T shape and engaging against a first segment of the ring, with a radial arm extend... | 11/30/2010 |
| 7837728 | Reduced length tissue shaping device One aspect of the invention is a method of treating mitral valve regurgitation in a patient. The method includes the steps of delivering a tissue shaping device to the patient's coronary sinus in an unexpanded configuration within a catheter having an outer diameter... | 11/23/2010 |
| 7837729 | Percutaneous mitral valve annuloplasty delivery system The invention is a tissue shaping system, including a tissue shaping device with an expandable anchor and a lock; a delivery catheter; a delivery mechanism adapted to deliver the tissue shaping device from outside a patient to a target site within a lumen within the... | 11/23/2010 |
