ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 31 -- United States Patent no. 12,509,807, issued on Dec. 30, was assigned to Edwards Lifesciences Corp. (Irvine, Calif.).
"Automated heart valve manufacturing" was invented by James R. Cody III (Tustin, Calif.), Ping-Yang Shih (Santa Ana, Calif.) and Tiffany Diemtrinh Tran (Anaheim, Calif.).
According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An automated system that can be used for prosthetic heart valve manufacturing or suturing procedures. The system includes automated fixtures that maneuver a needle and a target device. The automated fixtures can be suturing arms, target device holders, needle transfer fixtures, and/or needle holders. The automated fixtures can rotate a target device held...