US Patent Issued to Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ on July 1 for "Vascular implant and delivery system" (Massachusetts, Connecticut Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., July 3 -- United States Patent no. 12,343,252, issued on July 1, was assigned to Edwards Lifesciences CardiAQ LLC (Irvine, Calif.).

"Vascular implant and delivery system" was invented by Arshad Quadri (West Hartford, Conn.) and J. Brent Ratz (Winchester, Mass.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A vascular implant for replacing a native heart valve comprises a self expanding stent supporting a valve body having leaflets. The stent preferably comprises an anchoring structure configured to prevent the implant from passing through the valve annulus. For delivery, the implant is compacted within delivery device and secured at one end. During delivery the implant is partially released ...