Patents by Inventor Mark J Capps

Mark J Capps has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Heart valve fixation process and apparatus
    Patent number: 6761735
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for limiting longitudinal stretch during fixation of a harvested aortic root including valve leaflets and the product produced. The apparatus includes an inflow plug inserted into the inflow section of the aortic root and having an apertured tube or cannula extending through the valve leaflets to an outflow plug inserted into the outflow section of the aortic root. Apertures in the tube are located on either side of the valve leaflets and the tube is coupled to a fluid inlet, preferably located on the outflow plug. The outflow plug is slidable relative to the tube and is provided with an engagement mechanism such as a setscrew for fixing the location of the outflow plug relative to the tube and the inflow plug. After assembly of the aortic root to the apparatus, the fluid inlet is coupled to a source of defined pressure and the root is inflated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2004
    Assignee: Medtronic, Inc.
    Inventors: Carol E. Eberhardt, Christopher G. Toomes, Mark J Capps, Billie Millwee, Janice Shay, Tom Hessler, Faisal Kalam