IP Library Granted Patent US 12,318,289
Granted Patent B2
US 12,318,289 · App. 17/057,502 · Granted Jun 3, 2025

Device for the in-situ delivery of heart valve prosthesis

Inventors: Giovanni Giordano (Saluggia, IT); Monica Francesca Achiluzzi (Saluggia, IT)
Assignee: CORCYM S.R.L.
A61F2/2427
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,318,289
App. No.
17/057,502
Granted
Jun 3, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Disclosed herein is a deployment instrument including: a shaft ( 2 ) having a longitudinal axis (X 1 ); a handle ( 3 ) at a first end of the shaft ( 2 ); and a carrier portion ( 4 ) at a second end of the shaft ( 2 ). The carrier portion ( 4 ) is configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site. The carrier portion ( 4 ) includes a hub ( 5 ) fixed to the handle ( 3 ) via the shaft ( 2 ), a first deployment element ( 6 ) and a second deployment element ( 7 ), each of said first deployment element ( 6 ) and second deployment element ( 7 ) configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve N prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition. A drive member ( 8 ) is provided which is configured to operate the first deployment element ( 6 ) and the second deployment element ( 7 ) in first and second opposite directions. The instrument is also provided with a mechanism to allow a displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member ( 11 ).

Claims (70)

1. A deployment instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses including:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis;

a handle at a first end of the shaft; and

a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site,

wherein:

the carrier portion includes a hub fixed to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition,

the handle comprises a drive member including a first drive feature and a second drive feature,

the first deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a first axially movable element, the first axially movable element engaging said first drive feature of the drive member,

the second deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a second axially movable element, the second axially movable element engaging said second drive feature of the drive member,

wherein operation of the drive member is configured to simultaneously actuate both the first drive feature to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction and the second drive feature to axially displace the second deployment element in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite to one another, and

further wherein the second axially movable element includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being axially movable relative to the first portion to provide an axial displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member.

2. The deployment instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first end of the shaft is a proximal end, and the second end of the shaft is a distal end.

3. The deployment instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first direction is a distal direction, and the second direction is a proximal direction.

4. The deployment instrument of claim 1 , wherein said first drive feature comprises a first threaded portion and said second drive feature comprises a second threaded portion.

5. The deployment instrument of claim 4 , wherein said drive member is a rotary drive member comprising a knob and a stem, the first drive feature being provided on a first surface of the stem, and the second drive feature being provided on a second surface of the stem.

6. The deployment instrument of claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the second axially movable element are partly overlapping and slidably coupled to one another.

7. The deployment instrument of claim 6 , the second axially movable element including an elastic element biasing the second portion away from the first portion.

8. The deployment instrument of claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a layered structure.

9. The deployment instrument of claim 8 , wherein the shaft includes:

a first shaft member as middle layer;

a second shaft member as outer layer; and

a rod or shaft member as a core,

wherein:

the first shaft member connects the hub of the carrier portion to the handle,

the second shaft member connects the second deployment element to the second axially movable element,

the rod or shaft member connects the first deployment element to the first axially movable element.

10. The deployment instrument of claim 9 , wherein the second shaft member is engaged by diametrically opposite axial extensions protruding from an annular member of the second axially movable element.

11. A deployment instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses, including:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis;

a handle at a first end of the shaft; and

a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site,

wherein:

the carrier portion includes a hub fixed to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition,

the handle comprises a drive member including a first drive feature and a second drive feature,

the first deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a first axially movable element, the first axially movable element engaging said first drive feature of the drive member,

the second deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a second axially movable element, the second axially movable element engaging said second drive feature of the drive member, wherein upon operation of the drive member the first drive feature is configured to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction, and the second drive feature is configured to axially displace the second deployment element in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite to one another, and

further wherein the second axially movable element includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being axially movable relative to the first portion to provide an axial displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member;

wherein said first drive feature comprises a first threaded portion and said second drive feature comprises a second threaded portion;

wherein said drive member is a rotary drive member comprising a knob and a stem, the first drive feature being provided on a first surface of the stem, and the second drive feature being provided on a second surface of the stem; and

wherein said stem is a hollow member, said first drive feature being provided on an inner surface of the stem, and said second drive feature being provided on an outer surface of the stem.

12. A deployment instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses, including:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis;

a handle at a first end of the shaft; and

a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site,

wherein:

the carrier portion includes a hub fixed to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition,

the handle comprises a drive member including a first drive feature and a second drive feature,

the first deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a first axially movable element, the first axially movable element engaging said first drive feature of the drive member,

the second deployment element of the carrier portion is connected to a second axially movable element, the second axially movable element engaging said second drive feature of the drive member, wherein upon operation of the drive member the first drive feature is configured to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction, and the second drive feature is configured to axially displace the second deployment element in a second direction, said first direction and said second direction being opposite to one another, and

further wherein the second axially movable element includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being axially movable relative to the first portion to provide an axial displacement of the second deployment element in the second direction independently of the drive member;

wherein the first portion includes:

an annular portion wherefrom a first pair of diametrically opposite axial extensions protrude; and

an internal thread provided on the cylindrical inner surfaces of the axial extensions of the first pair and the annular member, the internal thread being configured to engage the second drive feature,

wherein the axial extensions merge at a flange wherefrom a second pair of diametrically opposite axial extensions departs axially away from the first pair of axial extensions.

13. The deployment instrument of claim 12 , wherein the axial extensions of the second pair are arranged at a location at right angle relative to the axial extensions of the first pair.

14. The deployment instrument of claim 12 , wherein each axial extension of the second pair includes a through axial slot, the axial extensions of the second pair being separated by a pair of axial grooves.

15. The deployment instrument of claim 12 , wherein the second portion of the second axially movable element includes an annular member wherefrom a third pair of diametrically opposite axial extensions protrude.

16. The deployment instrument of claim 15 ,

wherein the axial extensions of the third pair have the same position as the axial extensions in the second pair, and are each provided with a radially protruding plug,

wherein a pair of radially protruding teeth, diametrically opposite, extend from an inner surface of the annular portion and inwardly of the same, while a pair diametrically opposite guide fingers extend axially at said annular portion at positions at right angles relative to those of the radially protruding teeth, and

wherein the guide fingers are aligned with a corresponding through axial slot and slidably engage the same, while the teeth are aligned with the grooves separating the axial extensions of the second pair and are slidable therethrough.

17. A deployment instrument for expandable heart valve prostheses including:

a shaft having a longitudinal axis;

a handle at a first end of the shaft; and

a carrier portion at a second end of the shaft, the carrier portion configured for holding an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition for delivery to the implantation site,

wherein:

the carrier portion includes a hub coupled to the handle via the shaft, a first deployment element and a second deployment element, each of said first deployment element and second deployment element configured to hold a corresponding portion of an expandable heart valve prosthesis in a radially collapsed condition,

the handle comprises a drive member that simultaneously causes a first drive feature to axially displace the first deployment element in a first direction and a second drive feature to axially displace the second deployment element in a second, opposite, direction.

18. The deployment instrument of claim 17 , wherein the second deployment element is coupled to the second drive feature by a second axially movable member that includes a first portion and a second portion, the first portion engaging the second drive feature, and the second portion being independently axially movable relative to the first portion.

19. The deployment instrument of claim 17 , wherein the first drive feature comprises a first threaded portion having first winding threads and the second drive feature comprises a second threaded portion having second winding threads, opposite the first winding threads.

Assignments (3)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2022
From: CORCYM S.R.L.
To: HAYFIN SERVICES LLP
Reel/Frame 060451/0783 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2021
From: SORIN GROUP ITALIA S.R.L.
To: CORCYM S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 056513/0715 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 18, 2021
From: GIORDANO, GIOVANNI; ACHILUZZI, MONICA FRANCESCA
To: SORIN GROUP ITALIA S.R.L.
Reel/Frame 054945/0669 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210307903A1 · Oct 7, 2021
References Cited (400)
US 3143742A · Cromie · 1964 [cited by applicant]
US 3334629A · Cohn · 1967 [cited by applicant]
US 3363442A · Kennedy et al. · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3409013A · Henry et al. · 1968 [cited by applicant]
US 3514131A · Mckinney et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3540431A · Mobin-Uddin et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3546710A · Shumakov et al. · 1970 [cited by applicant]
US 3574865A · Hamaker · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3587115A · Shiley et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3608097A · Bellhouse et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3628535A · Ostrowsky et al. · 1971 [cited by applicant]
US 3642004A · Osthagen et al. · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3657744A · Ersek · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3671979A · Moulopoulos · 1972 [cited by applicant]
US 3744060A · Bellhouse et al. · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3755823A · Hancock · 1973 [cited by applicant]
US 3795246A · Sturgeon · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3839741A · Haller · 1974 [cited by applicant]
US 3868956A · Alfidi et al. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3874388A · King et al. · 1975 [cited by applicant]
US 3997923A · Possis · 1976 [cited by applicant]
US 4011947A · Sawyer · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4035849A · Angell et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4056854A · Boretos et al. · 1977 [cited by applicant]
US 4086665A · Poirier · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4106129A · Carpentier et al. · 1978 [cited by applicant]
US 4220151A · Whitney · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4222126A · Boretos et al. · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4233690A · Akins · 1980 [cited by applicant]
US 4265694A · Boretos et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4291420A · Reul · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4297749A · Davis et al. · 1981 [cited by applicant]
US 4339831A · Johnson · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4343048A · Ross et al. · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4345340A · Rosen · 1982 [cited by applicant]
US 4425908A · Simon · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4451936A · Carpentier et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4470157A · Love · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4477930A · Totten et al. · 1984 [cited by applicant]
US 4501030A · Lane · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4506394A · Bedard · 1985 [cited by applicant]
US 4574803A · Storz · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4580568A · Gianturco · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4592340A · Boyles · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4601706A · Aillon · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4610688A · Silvestrini et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4612011A · Kautzky · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4624822A · Arru et al. · 1986 [cited by applicant]
US 4647283A · Carpentier et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4648881A · Carpentier et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655218A · Kulik et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4655771A · Wallsten · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4662885A · DiPisa, Jr. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4665906A · Jervis · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4681908A · Broderick et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4684364A · Sawyer et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4692164A · Dzemeshkevich et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4710192A · Liotta et al. · 1987 [cited by applicant]
US 4722725A · Sawyer et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4732152A · Wallsten et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4733665A · Palmaz · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4758151A · Arru et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4777951A · Cribier et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4784644A · Sawyer et al. · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4787899A · Lazarus · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4787901A · Baykut · 1988 [cited by applicant]
US 4796629A · Grayzel · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4797901A · Goerne et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4819751A · Shimada et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4834755A · Silvestrini et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4856516A · Hillstead · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4872874A · Taheri · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4878495A · Grayzel · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4878906A · Lindemann et al. · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4883458A · Shiber · 1989 [cited by applicant]
US 4909252A · Goldberger · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4917102A · Miller et al. · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4922905A · Strecker · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4954126A · Wallsten · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4966604A · Reiss · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4979939A · Shiber · 1990 [cited by applicant]
US 4986830A · Owens et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 4994077A · Dobben · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5002559A · Tower · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5007896A · Shiber · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5026366A · Leckrone · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5032128A · Alonso · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5037434A · Lane · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5042161A · Hodge · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5047041A · Samuels · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5057092A · Webster, Jr. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5059177A · Towne et al. · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5061273A · Yock · 1991 [cited by applicant]
US 5084151A · Vallana et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5085635A · Cragg · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5089015A · Ross · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5123919A · Sauter et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5133845A · Vallana et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5139515A · Robicsek · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5152771A · Sabbaghian et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5161547A · Tower · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5163953A · Vince · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5163954A · Curcio et al. · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5167628A · Boyles · 1992 [cited by applicant]
US 5181911A · Shturman · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5201757A · Heyn et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5217483A · Tower · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5232445A · Bonzel · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5272909A · Nguyen et al. · 1993 [cited by applicant]
US 5287848A · Cubb et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5295958A · Shturman · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5300086A · Gory et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5304189A · Goldberg et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5312393A · Mastel · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5314468A · Ramos Martinez · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5327774A · Nguyen et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5332402A · Teitelbaum · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5350398A · Pavcnik et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5360014A · Sauter et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5370684A · Vallana et al. · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5370685A · Stevens · 1994 [cited by applicant]
US 5387247A · Vallana et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5389106A · Tower · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5397351A · Pavcnik et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5411552A · Andersen et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5415633A · Lazarus et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5423886A · Arru et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5431676A · Dubrul et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5433723A · Lindenberg et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5443446A · Shturman · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5445608A · Chen et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5445646A · Euteneuer et al. · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5449384A · Johnson · 1995 [cited by applicant]
US 5480424A · Cox · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5489294A · McVenes et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5489296A · Love et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5489297A · Duran · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5496346A · Horzewski et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5500014A · Quijano et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5505689A · Kramer et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5507767A · Maeda et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5522884A · Wright · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545209A · Roberts et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545211A · An et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545214A · Stevens · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5545215A · Duran · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5554185A · Block et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5556414A · Turi · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5560487A · Starr · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5575818A · Pinchuk · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5580922A · Park et al. · 1996 [cited by applicant]
US 5591195A · Taheri et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5609626A · Quijano et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5645559A · Hachtman et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5662712A · Pathak et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5665115A · Cragg · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5667523A · Bynon et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5669919A · Sanders et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5672169A · Verbeek · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5674277A · Freitag · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5693066A · Rupp et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5693083A · Baker et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5695498A · Tower · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5698307A · Levy · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5702368A · Stevens et al. · 1997 [cited by applicant]
US 5712953A · Langs · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5713953A · Vallana et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5716417A · Girard et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5746709A · Rom et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5749890A · Shaknovich · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5766151A · Valley et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5772693A · Brownlee · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5776187A · Krueger et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5782809A · Umeno et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5782811A · Samson et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5800456A · Maeda et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5800508A · Goicoechea et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5800531A · Cosgrove et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5807405A · Vanney et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5810873A · Morales · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5814096A · Lam et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5817126A · Imran · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824037A · Fogarty et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824041A · Lenker et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824043A · Cottone, Jr. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824053A · Khosravi et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824055A · Spiridigliozzi et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824056A · Rosenberg · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824061A · Quijano et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5824064A · Taheri · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5840081A · Andersen et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5843158A · Lenker et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5843244A · Pelton et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5849005A · Garrison et al. · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5851232A · Lois · 1998 [cited by applicant]
US 5855597A · Jayaraman · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5855601A · Bessler et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5860966A · Tower · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5860996A · Urban et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5861028A · Angell · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5868783A · Tower · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5871489A · Ovil · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5876436A · Vanney et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5876448A · Thompson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5885228A · Rosenman et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5888201A · Stinson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5891191A · Stinson · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5891195A · Klostermeyer et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5906619A · Olson et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5907893A · Zadno-Azizi et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5913842A · Boyd et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5925063A · Khosravi · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5944738A · Amplatz et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5947993A · Morales · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5951540A · Verbeek · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5951600A · Lemelson · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5954766A · Zadno-Azizi et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5957949A · Leonhardt et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5968068A · Dehdashtian et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5972016A · Morales · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5980570A · Simpson · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5984957A · Laptewicz, Jr. et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 5997573A · Quijano et al. · 1999 [cited by applicant]
US 6010530A · Goicoechea · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6010531A · Donlon et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6019739A · Rhee et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6019756A · Mueller et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6019790A · Holmberg et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6022370A · Tower · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6024737A · Morales · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6027525A · Suh et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6029671A · Stevens et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6030360A · Biggs · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6042589A · Marianne · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6042598A · Tsugita et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6042607A · Williamson, IV et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6051002A · Morales · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6051014A · Jang · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6051104A · Oriaran et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6059809A · Amor et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6059827A · Fenton, Jr. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6063102A · Morales · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6090099A · Samson et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6106497A · Wang · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6110200A · Hinnenkamp · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6110201A · Quijano et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6125852A · Stevens et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6139572A · Campbell et al. · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6146366A · Schachar · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6159239A · Greenhalgh · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6162208A · Hipps · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6162245A · Jayaraman · 2000 [cited by applicant]
US 6168614B1 · Andersen et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6171335B1 · Wheatley et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6174307B1 · Daniel et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6187016B1 · Hedges et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6197143B1 · Bodnar · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6200336B1 · Pavcnik et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6202272B1 · Jackson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6203550B1 · Olson · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6210408B1 · Chandrasekaran et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6218662B1 · Tchakarov et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6221006B1 · Dubrul et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6221091B1 · Khosravi · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6241757B1 · An et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6245102B1 · Jayaraman · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6248116B1 · Chevillon et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6251093B1 · Valley et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6258114B1 · Konya et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6258115B1 · Dubrul · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6258120B1 · McKenzie et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6270526B1 · Cox · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6277110B1 · Morales · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6277555B1 · Duran et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6287339B1 · Vazquez et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6299637B1 · Shaolian et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6299638B1 · Sauter · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6302906B1 · Goicoechea et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6309382B1 · Garrison et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6309383B1 · Campbell et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6309417B1 · Spence et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6312462B1 · McDermott et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6312465B1 · Griffin et al. · 2001 [cited by applicant]
US 6338735B1 · Stevens · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6346071B1 · Mussivand · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6348063B1 · Yassour et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6350277B1 · Kocur · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6350281B1 · Rhee · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6352547B1 · Brown et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6352554B2 · De Paulis · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6352708B1 · Duran et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6368355B1 · Uflacker · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6371970B1 · Khosravi et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6371983B1 · Lane · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6379383B1 · Palmaz et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6380457B1 · Yurek et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6387117B1 · Arnold, Jr. et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6395017B1 · Dwyer et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6398807B1 · Chouinard et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6402780B2 · Williamson, IV et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6409750B1 · Hyodoh et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6416474B1 · Penner et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6424885B1 · Niemeyer et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6425916B1 · Garrison et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6440164B1 · DiMatteo et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6454799B1 · Schreck · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6458153B1 · Bailey et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6461366B1 · Seguin · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6461382B1 · Cao · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6468303B1 · Amplatz et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6475239B1 · Campbell et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6481262B2 · Ching et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6482228B1 · Norred · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6488704B1 · Connelly et al. · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6493608B1 · Niemeyer · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6494909B2 · Greenhalgh · 2002 [cited by applicant]
US 6503272B2 · Duerig et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6506201B2 · Di Caprio et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6508833B2 · Pavcnik et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6510722B1 · Ching et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6520987B1 · Plante · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6527800B1 · McGuckin, Jr. et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6530949B2 · Konya et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6530952B2 · Vesely · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6544285B1 · Thubrikar et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6562031B2 · Chandrasekaran et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6562058B2 · Seguin et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6569196B1 · Vesely · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6572642B2 · Rinaldi et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6582462B1 · Andersen et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6585758B1 · Chouinard et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6592546B1 · Barbut et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6598307B2 · Love et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6605112B1 · Moll et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6607553B1 · Healy et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6613077B2 · Gilligan et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6622604B1 · Chouinard et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6629350B2 · Motsenbocker · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6629534B1 · St. Goar et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6635068B1 · Dubrul et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6641558B1 · Aboul-Hosn et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6645197B2 · Garrison et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6645220B1 · Huter et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6652571B1 · White et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6652578B2 · Bailey et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6656213B2 · Solem · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6656219B1 · Wiktor · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6663663B2 · Kim et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6669724B2 · Park et al. · 2003 [cited by applicant]
US 6673089B1 · Yassour et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6673109B2 · Cox · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6676684B1 · Morley et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6676692B2 · Rabkin et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6676698B2 · McGuckin, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6678962B1 · Love et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6679893B1 · Tran · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6679911B2 · Burgermeister · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6682558B2 · Tu et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6685739B2 · DiMatteo et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6689144B2 · Gerberding · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6689164B1 · Seguin · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6692512B2 · Jang · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6692513B2 · Streeter et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6695878B2 · McGuckin, Jr. et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6702851B1 · Chinn et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6716241B2 · Wilder et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6719789B2 · Cox · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726648B2 · Kaplon et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726651B1 · Robinson et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726712B1 · Raeder-Devens et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6726713B2 · Schaldach et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6730118B2 · Spenser et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6730377B2 · Wang · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6733525B2 · Yang et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6736846B2 · Cox · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6752828B2 · Thornton · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6758855B2 · Fulton, III et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6767362B2 · Schreck · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6769161B2 · Brown et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6769434B2 · Liddicoat et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6786925B1 · Schoon et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790229B1 · Berreklouw · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6790230B2 · Beyersdorf et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6792979B2 · Konya et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6797002B2 · Spence et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6805711B2 · Quijano et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6821297B2 · Snyders · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6830575B2 · Stenzel et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6830584B1 · Seguin · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6830585B1 · Artof et al. · 2004 [cited by applicant]
US 6846324B2 · Stobie · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6846325B2 · Liddicoat · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6866650B2 · Stevens et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6872223B2 · Roberts et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6875231B2 · Anduiza et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6883522B2 · Spence et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6887266B2 · Williams et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6890330B2 · Streeter et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6893460B2 · Spenser et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]
US 6896690B1 · Lambrecht et al. · 2005 [cited by applicant]