# 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. - **Patent:** US 12734029 - **Original title:** Ventricular anchors for valve repair and replacement devices - **Granted:** 2026 - **Status:** Active - **Times cited:** 0 - **Field:** biotech, medical_devices, cardiology, surgical_equipment ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Transcatheter mitral valve repair systems 2. Heart valve replacement devices 3. Ventricular anchoring systems for cardiac prosthetics ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734029/ventricular-anchors-for-valve-repair-and-replacement-devices **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US12734029 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [A New Heart Valve That Replaces Old Ones Without Open Surgery](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734030/prosthetic-heart-valve-devices-and-associated-systems-and-methods) — This patent describes a prosthetic heart valve that can be inserted without major surgery, using an expandable support and special arms to hold it in place within the heart. - [Marking Heart Valve Commissures for Better Imaging](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734031/commissure-marker-for-a-prosthetic-heart-valve) — This patent describes a method for attaching a special marker to a prosthetic heart valve that shows up on X-rays, helping doctors see the exact position of the valve's leaflets during surgery. - [How a Catheter Blood Pump Extends Its Tip for Guidance](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734351/catheter-blood-pump-delivery-guiding-systems-and-methods-of-use) — This patent describes a tiny blood pump on a catheter that can extend a part of its tip forward, guided by a separate internal wire, to help it move safely and precisely inside blood vessels. - [How a Surgical Device Temporarily Anchors in the Intestine](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12733932/surgical-device-for-controlled-anchoring-in-the-intestine) — This patent describes a surgical device designed to temporarily attach itself to the inner wall of the intestine using a controllable suction mechanism and a radially elastic wall. - [A Medical Guidewire That Bends to Protect Tissue](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/12734341/medical-guidewire-assembly-having-predetermined-spatial-geometry) — This patent describes a medical guidewire assembly designed to safely puncture a body wall, featuring a flexible tip that automatically forms a protective shape once it exits a guiding tube, preventing the sharp piercing tool from accidentally harming nearby healthy tissue.