Brian W Conklin

US Patent:

20120078357, Mar 29, 2012

Filed:

Sep 20, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/237556

Inventors:

Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US

Assignee:

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

US Classification:

623 218

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve can include a valve frame having a wireform portion and a stent portion. The wireform and stent portions can be undetachably coupled together via a plurality of upright struts so as to form a one-piece prosthetic heart valve frame. Alternatively, a self-expanding wireform portion and a balloon-expandable stent portion can be coupled together via one or more leaflets and a subassembly having a flexible leaflet support stent and a sealing ring. The wireform portion can include cusps and commissures configured to support a plurality of leaflets. The prosthetic valve can be radially collapsible for minimally invasive and/or transcatheter delivery techniques. Disclosed embodiments can also provide flexion of the wireform portion (e.g., of the commissures) in response to physiologic pulsatile loading when the valve is implanted in a patient's native valve annulus. Methods of making and using prosthetic heart valves are also disclosed.

US Patent:

20130023984, Jan 24, 2013

Filed:

Jul 18, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/552520

Inventors:

Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US

Assignee:

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

US Classification:

623 214

Abstract:

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide an improved support frame for a prosthetic heart valve. The support frame can include a plurality of diamond-shaped cells arranged in a plurality of circumferential rows. Three cells corresponding to the leaflet commissures can be configured as commissure tip cells, with elongated rounded portions rather than a diamond shape. The commissure tip cells can allow for insertion of leaflet tabs, thereby allowing the leaflets to be sutured outside of the valve. In this manner, the leaflet sutures can be removed from areas of high stress during physiologic loading. Thus, currently disclosed embodiments of a support frame can allow for use of thinner leaflet materials than possible with conventional prosthetic heart valves, without sacrificing valve durability in some embodiments.

US Patent:

20130150954, Jun 13, 2013

Filed:

Dec 6, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/707395

Inventors:

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION - Irvine CA, US
Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US

Assignee:

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

US Classification:

623 211

Abstract:

A valve sizer for determining an appropriate replacement valve size when performing a heart valve replacement procedure is provided. In one version the valve sizer has a hollow shaft with proximal and distal ends. A movable sizing element couples to the distal end of the shaft and is radially expandable between first, contracted and second, expanded positions. An actuator assembly on a handle includes an actuator coupled to a clutch member via a ball-spring-detent clutch. A rod extends through the shaft and maintains a fixed distance between the handle and a distal hub in the sizing element. Movement of the actuator causes axial movement of the shaft, thereby causing radial expansion of sizing petals relative to the hub. The clutch slips when a predetermined reaction force from the surrounding valve annulus is met by the petals.

US Patent:

20130166022, Jun 27, 2013

Filed:

Nov 13, 2012

Appl. No.:

13/675801

Inventors:

Edwards Lifesciences Corporation - Irvine CA, US
Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US

Assignee:

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION - Irvine CA

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

US Classification:

623 217, 623 238, 623 236

Abstract:

A device for anchoring a prosthetic heart valve or annuloplasty ring to a valve annulus in a heart and a method of implanting same is disclosed. The device can include a prosthetic valve or annuloplasty ring with one or more anchors configured to be threaded or otherwise passed underneath a native leaflet and/or subvalvular tissue to secure the device at the native annulus.

US Patent:

20110276128, Nov 10, 2011

Filed:

May 10, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/104648

Inventors:

Hengchu Cao - Irvine CA, US
Brian Conklin - Orange CA, US
Paul Schmidt - Irvine CA, US
Grace Myong Kim - Garden Grove CA, US
James A. Davidson - San Juan Capistrano CA, US
Hoa Trinh Tran - Irvine CA, US
Kristy Luong Tam - Anaheim CA, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

US Classification:

623 211, 623 218, 623 241

Abstract:

Disclosed prosthetic valves can comprise a sewing ring configured to secure the valve to an implantation site. Some disclosed valves comprise a resiliently collapsible frame having a neutral configuration and a collapsed deployment configuration. Some disclosed frames can self-expand to the neutral configuration when released from the collapsed deployment configuration. Collapsing a disclosed valve can provide convenient access to the sewing ring, such as for securing the valve to the implantation site, as well as for the insertion of the valve through relatively small surgical incisions.

US Patent:

20220370200, Nov 24, 2022

Filed:

Aug 3, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/817231

Inventors:

- Irvine CA, US
Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US
Louis A. Campbell - Santa Ana CA, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

Abstract:

An annuloplasty band having a differentiation in area moment of inertia, where the area moment of inertia in the out of plane direction is much less than the area moment of inertia in the plane of the annulus. This makes the band stiff enough to hold the annulus in the correct shape while being flexible enough out of plane to minimize the risk of suture dehiscence or breakage. One example is a C-shaped band with a core formed of nitinol and having a constant cross-section with a wider radial dimension than an axial dimension. The cross-section may be rectangular. The band is asymmetric across a minor axis with one end extending around the anterior side farther than the other. The free ends rise up from adjacent lateral sides, and a continuous posterior mid-section also rises upward.

US Patent:

20220313429, Oct 6, 2022

Filed:

Jun 14, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/806928

Inventors:

- Irvine CA, US
Amy E. Munnelly - Irvine CA, US
Van Huynh - Anaheim CA, US
Avina Gupta - Alta Loma CA, US
Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US
Sooji Van Echten - Cerritos CA, US
Kurt Kelly Reed - Huntington Beach CA, US
Amanda Grace Sall - Hoover AL, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

Abstract:

A prosthetic heart valve has a plurality of valve leaflets that control directional flow of blood through a heart and a stent structure having a plurality of commissure posts supporting the valve leaflets. The stent structure has a covering over the plurality of commissure posts and has a sewing ring at an inflow end of the stent structure. Each of the plurality of commissure posts has a tip and a suture loop is attached to the covering at a location adjacent to or on the tip of the commissure post. Each suture loop provides a passage for a suture to pass through between the covering and the suture loop.

US Patent:

20220280290, Sep 8, 2022

Filed:

May 23, 2022

Appl. No.:

17/664619

Inventors:

- Irvine CA, US
Brian S. Conklin - Orange CA, US

International Classification:

A61F 2/24

Abstract:

Valve holders and introducers for delivering a prosthetic heart valve to an implant site are configured to facilitate insertion of prosthetic valves through small incisions or access sites on a patient's body. The valve holders can also be configured to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of suture looping or other damage to the prosthetic valve during implantation. A valve holder according to embodiments of the invention includes features that reduce or eliminate mistakes during implantation of the prosthetic valves, such as a handle that prevents implantation of the valve prior to proper deployment or adjustment of the holder. An introducer is provided which can facilitate temporary deformation of a nitinol prosthetic valve to pass between adjacent ribs of a patient without rib spreading. Valves are provided having a wireform and stiffener band made of materials that exhibit superelastic properties. Valve holders, introducers, and valves according to the various embodiments can be used in minimally invasive procedures, such as thoracotomy procedures.