Aortic ring and ancillary device for implanting it

Abstract

Aortic ring ( 1 ) made of a flexible, suturable and biocompatible material, having a length, in the implanted state, making it possible to maintain a normal aortic ring diameter, said ring comprising, or being able to be combined with, means for holding the ring in a closed position in its site of implantation, in particular in a subvalvular plane.

1 . An aortic ring made of a flexible, suturable and biocompatible material, having a length, in the implanted state, making it possible to maintain a normal aortic ring diameter, said ring comprising, or being combined with, means ( 3 ,  4 ) for holding the ring in a closed position in its site of implantation.  
   
   
       2 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ring has a dimension allowing it to be implanted around the aortic root, in a subvalvular position and beneath the coronary vessels.  
   
   
       3 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 1  or  2 , wherein said ring has a height greater than 1 mm and in particular from 3 to 4 mm.  
   
   
       4 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 1 , said ring having a closed annular shape.  
   
   
       5 . The aortic ring as claimed in either of claims  1  and  3 , said ring being made in the form of a band ( 2 ) which is initially not closed.  
   
   
       6 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 5 , said ring having means of closure ( 3 ,  4 ) or of fastening which are already in place, allowing the ring, which is initially open, to be formed into a circle and joined at its two ends.  
   
   
       7 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said means are staples or threads.  
   
   
       8 . The aortic ring as claimed in one of claims  1  through  7 , wherein said ring is made of a textile material permitting simple fixation by suturing of the ring and/or closure.  
   
   
       9 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the material used is polytetrafluoroethylene or Dacron or silicone, in particular in a woven or knitted form.  
   
   
       10 . The aortic ring as claimed in one of claims  1  through  9 , wherein the material is elastic so as to exert a pressure which makes it possible to reduce the aortic diameter in the diastolic phase, respecting the physiology of the normal aortic ring, while expanding for an increase in systolic diameter.  
   
   
       11 . The aortic ring as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the variation in diameter is limited to a less than 10% increase in the diameter of the prosthetic ring for a pressure greater than 140 mmHg.  
   
   
       12 . The ring as claimed in one of claims  1  through  11 , wherein it has a diameter of 23 to 27 mm in the implanted state.  
   
   
       13 . A set of aortic rings as claimed in one of claims  1  through  11 , comprising three rings with diameters of 23 mm, 25 mm and 27 mm.  
   
   
       14 . Use of a ring made of a flexible, suturable and compatible material, having a height preferably at least equal to 2 mm and preferably of between 2 and 4 mm, initially open or closed, for production of an aortic ring, said aortic ring comprising or being combined with means for holding the ring in a closed position in its site of implantation, in particular in a subvalvular position or possibly also in a supravalvular position.  
   
   
       15 . An ancillary device for implanting a ring as claimed in one of claims  1  through  13 , wherein said ancillary device comprises an annular frame or open arc ( 21 ,  25 ) optionally connected to a rod ( 22 ) which is substantially transversal with respect to its plane, means ( 24 ) being provided to hold the aortic ring along said frame in a position which is such that, during suturing of the ring, the latter cannot fold up or pucker.  
   
   
       16 . The ancillary device as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said transversal rod ( 22 ) is connected to a frame by way of a detachable connection ( 23 ).