1. An annuloplasty device for implantation adjacent an annulus of a tricuspid valve, the annulus comprising anterior, posterior and septal aspects adjacent anterior, posterior and septal leaflets, respectively, of the tricuspid valve, the device comprising: a ring body comprising: an anterior portion, a posterior portion and a septal portion shaped to conform to, and for implantation adjacent, the anterior, posterior and septal aspects of the annulus, respectively; and first end and second ends, the first end being at an end of the anterior portion, and the second end being at an end of the septal portion so that a gap is provided between the first and second ends; wherein the ring body is curvilinear, with substantially no flat portion along at least the anterior portion in any of three dimensions, forming a shape, and the ends are configured such that when the device is implanted, the first end will be located near the junction of the septal and anterior aspects of the annulus and the second end will be located near the septal aspect of the annulus with the AV node of such annulus within the gap
an inward bow in the anterior portion such that when the device is implanted the bow will be locate near an aortic valve of the heart and the bow extends in the flow direction of the ring body and the blood flow direction of the tricuspid valve.
2. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the anterior portion comprises a curve extending in a superior direction, the posterior portion comprises a curve extending in the superior direction, the anterior portion curve extends farther in the superior direction than the posterior portion curve.
3. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the shape of the ring body mimics the shape of a native tricuspid valve annulus.
4. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the curvilinear shape includes varying slope between four slope minima.
5. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the ring body follows a path from first end to second end that contains at least two maximum and two minimum positions along the path.
6. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the ring body comprises a semi-rigid material.
7. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein the ring body further comprises: a sheath; and, a stiffening element disposed within the sheath.
8. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the ends of the ring body avoid the AV node of the heart.
9. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the ends of the ring body and associated sutures avoid the Triangle of Koch of the heart.
10. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the device reduces the posterior aspect of the annulus.
11. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein upon implantation, the device reduces the septal-lateral aspect of the annulus.
12. The annuloplasty device of claim 1, wherein relative to an upright orientation of the device in which the first end is spatially above the second end in a vertical dimension, an upward direction is spatially defined from the second end toward the first end, and an opposite, downward direction is defined from the first end toward the second end, and further wherein extension of the ring body from the first end includes a curve in the downward direction from a first maximum position to a first minimum position, a curve in the upward direction from the first minimum position to a second maximum position, a curve in the downward direction from the second maximum position to a second minimum position, and a projection in the upward direction from the second minimum position to the second end, wherein the first maximum position is above the second maximum position in the upward direction.
13. The annuloplasty device of claim 12, wherein the ring body curves in the upward direction from the first end to the first maximum position, and does not curve in the downward direction from the first end to the first maximum position.
14. The annuloplasty device of claim 13, wherein the ring body does not curve in the downward direction in the projection from the second minimum position to the second end.
15. An annuloplasty device for implantation adjacent an annulus of a tricuspid valve of a heart, the tricuspid valve having a flow orifice and a blood flow direction, and the annulus comprising anterior, posterior and septal aspects adjacent anterior, posterior and septal leaflets, respectively, of the tricuspid valve, the device comprising:
a ring body in the form of an arcuate band with a flow direction defined from a first side of the ring body to a second side of the ring body, the ring body comprising:
an anterior portion, a posterior portion and a septal portion shaped to conform to, and for implantation adjacent, the anterior, posterior and septal aspects of the annulus, respectively; and
an inward bow in the anterior portion such that when the device is implanted the bow will be located near an aortic valve of the heart and the bow extends in the flow direction of the ring body and the blood flow direction of the tricuspid valve.
16. An annuloplasty device for implantation adjacent an annulus of a tricuspid valve, the annulus comprising anterior, posterior and septal aspects adjacent anterior, posterior and septal leaflets, respectively, of the tricuspid valve, the device comprising: a ring body comprising: an anterior portion, a posterior portion and a septal portion shaped to conform to, and for implantation adjacent, the anterior, posterior and septal aspects of the annulus, respectively; and first end and second ends, the first end being at an end of the anterior portion, and the second end being at an end of the septal portion so that a gap is provided between the first and second ends; wherein the ring body is curvilinear, with substantially no flat portion along at least the anterior portion in any of three dimensions, forming a shape, and the anterior portion comprises a curve extending in a superior direction, the posterior portion comprises a curve extending in the superior direction, the anterior portion curve extends farther in the superior direction than the posterior portion curve
an inward bow in the anterior portion such that when the device is implanted the bow will be locate near an aortic valve of the heart and the bow extends in the flow direction of the ring body and the blood flow direction of the tricuspid valve.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1.-19. (canceled)
20. A method of forming a snack food product, which comprises:
partially scrambling eggs,
mixing at least one food grade binder with the partially scrambled eggs,
fully cooking the scrambled eggs,
shaping the fully-cooked scrambled eggs, and
battering the shaped scrambled eggs.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein a stock base is formed by mixing seasonings and production assistance ingredients with a mass of liquid eggs.
22. The method of claim 21 wherein the mixing is effected at a temperature of about 5\xb0 to about 10\xb0 C.
23. The method of claim 21 wherein the stock base is heated to a temperature of about 50\xb0 to about 80\xb0 C. taking about 20 to 50 minutes to form the partially scrambled egg which is wet, moist and paste-like.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein the stock base is heated to a temperature of about 60\xb0 to about 70\xb0 C. taking about 30 to about 40 minutes.
25. The method of claim 23 wherein the stock base is pretempered at a temperature of about 5\xb0 to about 20\xb0 C. taking about 60 to about 200 minutes prior to said heating step.
26. The method of claim 24 wherein the stock base is pretempered at a temperature of about 10\xb0 to about 15\xb0 C. taking about 90 to about 180 minutes prior to said heating step.
27. The method of claim 23 wherein, following mixing at least one food grade binder with the partially-scrambled egg, the partially scrambled egg is fully cooked by heating to a temperature of about 60\xb0 to about 85\xb0 C. taking about 3 to about 20 minutes until the cooked eggs are dry.
28. The method of claim 24 wherein, following mixing the at least one food grade binder with the partially-scrambled egg, the partially-scrambled egg is fully cooked by heating to a temperature of about 70\xb0 to about 80\xb0 C. taking about 7 to about 15 minutes until the cooked eggs are dry.
29. The method of claim 20 wherein said fully-cooked scrambled egg is shaped by extruding the fully-cooked scrambled egg in a desired cross-sectional shape followed by cutting the extruded scrambled egg into desired longitudinal lengths.
30. The method of claim 29 wherein said extruding step is effected at a temperature of about 2\xb0 to about 18\xb0 C.
31. The method of claim 30 wherein said temperature of about 5\xb0 to about 10\xb0 C.
32. The method of claim 20 wherein the battered product is breaded.
33. The method of claim 32 wherein the battered and breaded product is par-fried prior to freezing.