US Patent Issued to Medtronic ATS Medical, Medtronic on Nov. 4 for "Semi-flexible annuloplasty ring" (New York, Colorado Inventors)

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 6 -- United States Patent no. 12,458,496, issued on Nov. 4, was assigned to Medtronic ATS Medical Inc. (Minneapolis) and Medtronic Inc. (Minneapolis).

"Semi-flexible annuloplasty ring" was invented by David H. Adams (New York) and John T. M. Wright (Conifer, Colo.).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "An annuloplasty ring for attachment to an annulus of a tricuspid valve comprises an elongate tube of suturable material comprising a central segment and first and second end segments. An arcuate stiffener is received in the central segment of the tube and extends the length thereof. The arcuate stiffener is circumferentially confined within the central segment to prevent circumfer...