Abstract: A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a collapsible punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

Abstract: A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a collapsible punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

Abstract: A method of crimping and loading prosthetic heart valves comprises folding a crimping sheet to form a spiral wrapped around a heart valve; manually rolling and tightening the spiral to compress the valve inside the spiral; inserting the tightened spiral wrapped around the valve into a cannula; and displacing the valve out of the tightened spiral and into the cannula. A kit for crimping and loading the valve into a delivery device comprises a crimping sheet foldable to form a spiral wrapped around the valve, the spiral manually rollable and tightenable to compress the valve wrapped inside the spiral, so that the tightened spiral is slidably insertable into a lumen of a cannula for delivering the valve; and a plunger sized for insertion into the tightened spiral to displace the heart valve out of the spiral and into the lumen of the cannula.

Abstract: A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a fusiform punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

Abstract: A method and device for perforating an aortic valve to remove excessive calcium deposits on aortic valve leaflets improves the implantation of TAVI replacement valves in patients. By removing excessive calcium deposits, the radial pressure exerted by implanted TAVI replacement valves is reduced, such that there is less blood leakage around the valve and less stress on the cardiac conductive system. A device with a collapsible punch is inserted into the aortic valve. The punch is separable such that the aortic valve leaflets are positioned between at least two elements of the punch. The two elements then compress together with the leaflets between them, causing the aortic valve to be perforated. A circumferential ring of the remaining aortic valve and calcium deposits are left to provide stability for the TAVI replacement valve.

Abstract: A method of crimping and loading prosthetic heart valves comprises folding a crimping sheet to form a spiral wrapped around a heart valve; manually rolling and tightening the spiral to compress the valve inside the spiral; inserting the tightened spiral wrapped around the valve into a cannula; and displacing the valve out of the tightened spiral and into the cannula. A kit for crimping and loading the valve into a delivery device comprises a crimping sheet foldable to form a spiral wrapped around the valve, the spiral manually rollable and tightenable to compress the valve wrapped inside the spiral, so that the tightened spiral is slidably insertable into a lumen of a cannula for delivering the valve; and a plunger sized for insertion into the tightened spiral to displace the heart valve out of the spiral and into the lumen of the cannula.

Abstract: A method for implanting a heart valve into a patient's heart can include securing the heart valve prosthesis to a distal portion of an implanter apparatus. An opening is created in muscle tissue of the patient's heart, through which a length of the barrel is inserted such that an end of the barrel is advanced toward the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is advanced through the barrel to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is positioned at the desired implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis can be expanded at the desired implantation site to anchor the prosthesis into adjacent tissue.

Abstract: A method for implanting a heart valve into a patient's heart can include inserting the heart valve prosthesis into a barrel of an implanter apparatus. An opening is created in muscle tissue of the patient's heart to provide a substantially direct path that extends from the opening to a desired implantation site in the heart. A length of the barrel is inserted through the opening in the tissue such that an end of the barrel and the opening are along the direct path to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is advanced through the barrel to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is positioned at the desired implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis can be expanded at the desired implantation site from the reduced cross-sectional dimension toward the expanded cross-sectional dimension.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating prolapsed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a contact member and an elongated rod that can be used to hold the contact member in position for coapting with a patient's native leaflets. A similarly configured sizing apparatus can also be used to facilitate implantation.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis has a supported valve including a biological valve portion mounted within a support structure. The supported valve has inflow and outflow ends spaced axially apart from each other. A fixation support member includes an inflow portion that extends from a radially inner contact surface of the fixation support member radially outwardly and axially in a direction of the inflow end of the supported valve. An outflow portion of the fixation support member extends from the radially inner contact surface radially outwardly and axially in a direction away from the inflow portion of the fixation support member. The radially inner contact surface is attached to a radially outer surface of the supported valve adjacent the inflow end of the supported valve.

Abstract: A solar collector, comprising: (a) a plurality of thermosiphon tubes in which water flows, each tube having a top opening and a bottom opening; (b) a top manifold having a water inlet and water outlet and disposed at the top opening of the tubes, providing both a water feed into at least one of the plurality of tubes and a water exit from the rest of the tubes; and (c) a bottom basin connecting the bottom openings of the tubes. In some embodiments the plurality of tubes are divided into at least one inlet tube and the rest as outlet tubes by a stopper disposed in the top manifold.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for mitigating prolapsed are disclosed. The apparatus includes a contact member and an elongated rod that can be used to hold the contact member in position for coapting with a patient's native leaflets. A similarly configured sizing apparatus can also be used to facilitate implantation.

Abstract: A method for implanting a heart valve into a patient's heart can include inserting the heart valve prosthesis into a barrel of an implanter apparatus, such that the heart valve prosthesis has a reduced cross-sectional dimension relative to a fully expanded cross-sectional dimension of the heart valve prosthesis. An opening is created in muscle tissue of the patient's heart to provide a substantially direct path that extends from the opening to a desired implantation site in the heart. A length of the barrel is inserted through the opening in the tissue such that an end of the barrel and the opening are along the direct path to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is advanced through the barrel to the implantation site. The heart valve prosthesis is positioned at the desired implantation site.

Abstract: A method of implanting a cardiac prosthesis is disclosed. The method can include placing a cardiac prosthesis into an elongated barrel of an implanter, the barrel comprising an open discharge end. An introducer apparatus is attached onto the open discharge end of the barrel, the introducer apparatus comprising a sidewall portion that extends from a first end portion and terminates in a distal end portion that gradually tapers to cross-sectional dimension that is less than cross-sectional dimension at the first end portion. The introducer apparatus can be configured to permit movement of the barrel, including the discharge end, axially through and beyond the distal end portion of the introducer apparatus. An opening can be created in tissue that provides a path from the opening to an implantation site. The introducer apparatus is inserted into the opening and the barrel axially can be moved through the introducer apparatus to position the discharge end of the barrel near the implantation site.

Abstract: A solar collector, comprising: (a) a plurality of thermosiphon tubes in which water flows, each tube having a top opening and a bottom opening; (b) a top manifold having a water inlet and water outlet and disposed at the top opening of the tubes, providing both a water feed into at least one of the plurality of tubes and a water exit from the rest of the tubes; and (c) a bottom basin connecting the bottom openings of the tubes. In some embodiments the plurality of tubes are divided into at least one inlet tube and the rest as outlet tubes by a stopper disposed in the top manifold.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis can include a supported valve including a biological valve portion mounted within a support structure. The supported valve is configured to provide for substantially unidirectional flow of blood through the supported valve. The supported valve has inflow and outflow ends that are spaced axially apart from each other. A fixation support member includes inflow and outflow portions. The inflow portion of the fixation support member extends from a radially inner contact surface of the fixation support member radially outwardly and axially in a direction of the inflow end of the supported valve. The outflow portion of the fixation support member extends from the radially inner contact surface radially outwardly and axially in a direction away from the inflow portion of the fixation support member. The radially inner contact surface is attached to a radially outer surface of the supported valve adjacent the inflow end of the supported valve.

Abstract: A method of implanting a heart valve prosthesis is disclosed. A valve is mounted within a support apparatus that is deformable between an expanded and a reduced cross-sectional condition. The prosthesis can be implanted into a patient's heart, such as during a direct vision procedure through a generally tubular implantation apparatus that maintains the prosthesis in its reduced cross-sectional condition until discharged from the tubular apparatus at a desired implantation site.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis may include a cylindrical support extending between axially spaced apart ends thereof, the cylindrical support including a plurality of support features extend generally axially between the opposed ends of the support, adjacent pairs of the support features being interconnected so as to bias the cylindrical support radially outwardly. A valve is mounted within the support to define a supported valve. The supported valve can include a sidewall portion extending between inflow and outflow ends thereof, the inflow and outflow ends of the valve sidewall portion being mounted within the cylindrical support such that ends of the sidewall portion are spaced axially apart from the spaced apart ends of the cylindrical support.

Abstract: A heart valve prosthesis and method of implanting the prosthesis are disclosed. A valve is mounted within a support apparatus that is deformable between a first condition and a second condition. The prosthesis has a cross-sectional dimension in the second condition that is less than a cross-sectional dimension of the supported valve when in first condition. The prosthesis can be implanted into a patient's heart, such as during a direct vision procedure through a tubular implantation apparatus that maintains the prosthesis in its second condition until discharged from the tubular apparatus.

Abstract: A sizing apparatus can include a contact member having a curved contact surface, the contact surface extending in a substantially convex shape from a proximal end to a distal end along a direction that lies in a same plane as a first axis, the contact surface extending in a substantially concave shape between spaced apart first and second side edges along a direction that lies in a plane that is substantially transverse to the first axis. The sizing apparatus can also include an arm extending from the contact member substantially parallel to the first axis. A flange may also be provided to facilitate use of the sizing apparatus.