US 12,186,190 B2
Methods of forming heat set annuloplasty rings
John F. Migliazza, Belmont Shores, CA (US); and Ruggero De Paulis, Rome (IT)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed on Jun. 28, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/361,183.
Application 17/361,183 is a continuation of application No. 16/352,541, filed on Mar. 13, 2019, granted, now 11,045,319.
Application 16/352,541 is a continuation of application No. 15/616,716, filed on Jun. 7, 2017, granted, now 10,265,171, issued on Apr. 23, 2019.
Application 15/616,716 is a continuation of application No. 14/189,842, filed on Feb. 25, 2014, granted, now 9,687,346, issued on Jun. 27, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/784,010, filed on Mar. 14, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2021/0322169 A1, Oct. 21, 2021
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01); C22F 1/10 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2445 (2013.01) [A61F 2/2448 (2013.01); C22F 1/10 (2013.01); A61F 2/2415 (2013.01); A61F 2/2466 (2013.01); A61F 2210/0019 (2013.01); A61F 2230/0095 (2013.01); A61F 2240/001 (2013.01); A61F 2250/0042 (2013.01); A61F 2310/00005 (2013.01); Y10T 29/49826 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49844 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49865 (2015.01); Y10T 29/4989 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49908 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49948 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49968 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49986 (2015.01); Y10T 29/49998 (2015.01); Y10T 29/5353 (2015.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for forming an annuloplasty ring, comprising:
providing a flexible core member comprising a metal;
providing a holding fixture having a base member shaped to mate with at least one clamping member, wherein the base member and the at least one clamping member have complementary channels therein that together provide a three-dimensional mold for a desired heat-set shape of the annuloplasty ring, wherein the heat-set shape corresponds to a shape of a native heart valve annulus;
placing the core member in the complementary channels between the base member and the at least one clamping member;
holding the core member in the heat-set shape and heating the core member for a period of time; and
cooling the core member to heat set the metal, the heat set core member being strong enough to remodel the native heart valve.