US 11,911,265 B2
Automated heart valve sewing
Chacphet Limsakoune, Corona, CA (US); Nina Robson, Fullerton, CA (US); Jeanette Jasmine Corona, Anaheim, CA (US); Michael R. White, Orange, CA (US); Juan Cuevas, Fullerton, CA (US); David Estelle, Azusa, CA (US); Michael Mashni, Yorba Linda, CA (US); Oscar Rosales, Buena Park, CA (US); Mitchell Salgado, Fullerton, CA (US); and Kenny Yin, Fullerton, CA (US)
Assigned to EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION, Irvine, CA (US)
Appl. No. 16/938,879
Filed by Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, Irvine, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jan. 11, 2019, PCT No. PCT/US2019/013340
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 24, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/140293, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 18, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/617,114, filed on Jan. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0000591 A1, Jan. 7, 2021
Int. Cl. A61F 2/24 (2006.01)
CPC A61F 2/2415 (2013.01) [A61F 2220/0075 (2013.01); A61F 2240/001 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of suturing an implant device, the method comprising:
disposing the implant device on a holder component of a first automated fixture;
directing the first automated fixture to position the implant device in a first position;
directing a second automated fixture to execute a first stitch on the implant device by passing a curved needle into and out of a material being sutured to the implant device;
directing the first automated fixture to position the implant device in a second position; and
directing the second automated fixture to execute a second stitch on the implant device by passing the curved needle into and out of the material being sutured to the implant device, the second automated fixture including a stitch looper that moves in coordination with the curved needle to form the first stitch and the second stitch;
wherein the stitch looper includes two or more tines to secure a portion of the suture as the curved needle is withdrawn through insertion points formed during formation of the first stitch.