How Curved Anchors Secure Heart Valve Repair Devices
This patent describes a prosthetic assembly for heart valve repair that uses a central spacer and two curved anchors designed to secure the device within the heart's ventricle.
Original patent title: “Ventricular anchors for valve repair and replacement devices”
This patent describes a prosthetic assembly for heart valve repair that uses a central spacer and two curved anchors designed to secure the device within the heart's ventricle. Granted in 2026.
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a prosthetic spacer assembly for heart valve repair and replacement, based on the abstractabstractA short summary at the front of the patent describing the invention. Not legally binding.Read more →. The assembly includes a main 'spacer' component. Connected to this spacer are two distinct anchors: a 'first anchor' and a 'second anchor'. A key feature is that both the first and second anchors are designed to curve around the spacer when viewed from an 'upstream end'. This design suggests a specific way to position and secure the device within the heart, potentially for stability during valve repair. For example, a surgeon might use this assembly to help repair a leaky mitral valve by positioning the spacer and using the curved anchors to grip the surrounding ventricular tissue.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover prosthetic assemblies where the anchors are not directly connected to a central spacer.
- Does not cover anchor designs that are straight or do not curve around the spacer when viewed from an upstream end.
- Does not cover valve repair or replacement devices that utilize only a single anchor instead of two distinct anchors.
- Does not cover anchoring systems intended for non-ventricular regions of the heart.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
Key facts
What made this novel
The noveltynoveltyThe requirement that an invention be different from anything publicly known before its priority date.Read more → appears to lie in the specific configuration where two separate anchors are connected to a spacer and both curve around it. This 'curving around' design, particularly when viewed from an 'upstream end', likely provides a unique way to grip or conform to the heart's anatomy, potentially offering enhanced stability or easier deployment.
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Transcatheter mitral valve repair systems
Heart valve replacement devices
Ventricular anchoring systems for cardiac prosthetics
Why it matters
The bigger picture
Heart valve disease affects millions globally, often requiring surgical repair or replacement. Devices like the one described aim to provide less invasive or more effective treatment options. Improving how these prosthetic devices are anchored within the heart is critical for their long-term success and patient safety, helping to ensure the repaired or replaced valve functions correctly.
Filed
April 21, 2023
Granted
September 15, 2026
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Major medical device manufacturers specializing in cardiovascular health, such as Medtronic, Edwards Lifesciences, and Abbott, are continuously developing new technologies for heart valve repair and replacement. These companies invest heavily in improving anchoring mechanisms and delivery systems for prosthetic devices.
Market impact
Improvements in anchoring mechanisms for heart valve devices can significantly impact the market by enabling safer and more effective treatments. Enhanced stability and easier deployment could expand the patient population eligible for less invasive procedures, potentially shifting market share towards advanced transcatheter solutions and reducing reliance on open-heart surgery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a prosthetic spacer assembly for heart valve repair and replacement, based on the abstract. The assembly includes a main 'spacer' component. Connected to this spacer are two distinct anchors: a 'first anchor' and a 'second anchor'. A key feature is that both the first and second anchors are designed to curve around the spacer when viewed from an 'upstream end'. This design suggests a specific way to position and secure the device within the heart, potentially for stability during valve repair. For example, a surgeon might use this assembly to help repair a leaky mitral valve by positioning the spacer and using the curved anchors to grip the surrounding ventricular tissue.
The clever bit
The novelty appears to lie in the specific configuration where two separate anchors are connected to a spacer and both curve around it. This 'curving around' design, particularly when viewed from an 'upstream end', likely provides a unique way to grip or conform to the heart's anatomy, potentially offering enhanced stability or easier deployment.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover prosthetic assemblies where the anchors are not directly connected to a central spacer.
- Does not cover anchor designs that are straight or do not curve around the spacer when viewed from an upstream end.
- Does not cover valve repair or replacement devices that utilize only a single anchor instead of two distinct anchors.
- Does not cover anchoring systems intended for non-ventricular regions of the heart.
Patent timeline
Application submitted to the patent office
Patent officially issued
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
0/40
No citations yet
Claim breadth
0/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
20/20
Granted within 5 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$26K – $84K
Midpoint $53K · 16.5 yr remaining · industry ×2.2
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
Claim text not yet imported for this patent
Concepts involved
Cite this patent
(2026). How Curved Anchors Secure Heart Valve Repair Devices (U.S. Patent No. 12,734,029). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734029/ventricular-anchors-for-valve-repair-and-replacement-devices
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Curved Anchors Secure Heart Valve Repair Devices cover?
This patent describes a prosthetic assembly for heart valve repair that uses a central spacer and two curved anchors designed to secure the device within the heart's ventricle.
When does this patent expire?
This patent is expected to expire on September 15, 2046, when the invention enters the public domain.
What problem does this patent solve?
Heart valve disease affects millions globally, often requiring surgical repair or replacement. Devices like the one described aim to provide less invasive or more effective treatment options. Improving how these prosthetic devices are anchored within the heart is critical for their long-term success and patient safety, helping to ensure the repaired or replaced valve functions correctly.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover prosthetic assemblies where the anchors are not directly connected to a central spacer.
Patent monitoring