1. A wheel chock for a tandem wheeled vehicle having a first wheel and a second wheel disposed on a supporting surface, said wheel chock comprising:
a first block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end and a second end, said first end having an angled contact panel configured for frictional engagement with said first wheel;
a second block member in spaced apart relation to said first block member, said second block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end and a second end;
a linkage assembly interconnecting said first block member and said second block member, said linkage assembly configured to generally displace said second block member in generally horizontal relation to said supporting surface and away from said first block member into abutting engagement with said second wheel for placement of said wheel chock into an engaged condition;
a handle pivotally connected to said first block member and operatively connected to said linkage assembly to move said first block member and said second block member between said engaged condition having said first block member against said first wheel and said second block member against said second wheel so as to prevent movement of said vehicle and a disengaged condition having said second block member moved away from said second wheel so as to allow movement of said vehicle; and
a locking member at said first block member, said locking member received through one or more locking slots in said first block member and into operative engagement with said linkage assembly so as to maintain said linkage assembly in said engaged condition.
2. The wheel chock of according to claim 1, wherein said linkage assembly includes a link member configured for over-center displacement so as to maintain said first block member and said second block member in an engaged condition.
3. The wheel chock of according to claim 2, wherein said link member is rotatably connected to said first block member and operatively engaged with said handle so as to rotate with rotation of said handle.
4. The wheel chock of according to claim 3, wherein said linkage assembly further comprises a drive member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said drive member pivotally connected to said link member, said second end of said drive member pivotally connected to said second block member.
5. The wheel chock of according to claim 4, wherein said drive member comprises a first drive member, a second drive member telescopically received in said first drive member and a means for securely connecting said first drive member and said second drive member so as to fix the position of said first drive member relative to said second drive member.
6. The wheel chock of according to claim 2, wherein said first block member further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall and said second block member further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, said link member rotatably connected to at least one of said first side wall and said second side wall of said first block member.
7. The wheel chock of according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said second block member has an angled contact panel, said contact panel of said second block member configured for frictional engagement with said second wheel.
8. The wheel chock of according to claim 7, wherein each of said contact panel of said first block member and said contact panel of said second block member are disposed at an angle of approximately 38 degrees to 45 degrees.
9. The wheel chock of according to claim 1, wherein said first end of said first block member further comprises a vertical panel.
10. The wheel chock of according to claim 9, wherein said first end of said second block member further comprises an angled contact panel and a vertical panel, said contact panel of said second block member configured for frictional engagement with said second wheel.
11. The wheel chock of according to claim 1, wherein said first block member further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall and said second block member further comprises a first side wall and a second side wall, at least one of said locking slots disposed in each of said first side wall and said second side wall of said first block member, said locking member extending between said locking slots in said first side wall and said second side wall of said first block member.
12. A wheel chock for a tandem wheeled vehicle having a first wheel and a second wheel disposed on a supporting surface, said wheel chock comprising:
a first block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first end having an angled contact panel and a vertical panel, said contact panel of said first block member configured for frictional engagement with said first wheel;
a second block member in spaced apart relation to said first block member, said second block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first end of said second block member having an angled contact panel and a vertical panel, said contact panel of said second block member configured for frictional engagement with said second wheel;
a linkage assembly interconnecting said first block member and said second block member, said linkage assembly configured to generally displace said second block member in generally horizontal relation to said supporting surface and away from said first block member into abutting engagement with said second wheel for placement of said wheel chock into an engaged condition, said linkage assembly having a link member configured for over-center displacement so as to maintain said first block member and said second block member in said engaged condition;
a handle operatively connected to said linkage assembly and configured to move said first block member and said second block member between said engaged condition having said first block member against said first wheel and said second block member against said second wheel so as to prevent movement of said vehicle and a disengaged condition having said second block member moved away from said second wheel so as to allow movement of said vehicle; and
a locking member at said first block member, said locking member received through one or more locking slots in said first block member and into operative engagement with said linkage assembly so as to maintain said linkage assembly in said engaged condition.
13. The wheel chock of according to claim 12, wherein said link member is rotatably connected to said first block member and operatively engaged with said handle so as to rotate with rotation of said handle.
14. The wheel chock of according to claim 13, wherein said linkage assembly further comprises a drive member having a first end and a second end, said first end of said drive member pivotally connected to said link member, said second end of said drive member pivotally connected to said second block member.
15. The wheel chock of according to claim 14, wherein said drive member comprises a first drive member, a second drive member telescopically received in said first drive member and a means for securely connecting said first drive member and said second drive member so as to fix the position of said first drive member relative to said second drive member.
16. The wheel chock of according to claim 12, wherein each of said contact panel of said first block member and said contact panel of said second block member are disposed at an angle of approximately 38 degrees to 45 degrees.
17. A wheel chock for a tandem wheeled vehicle having a first wheel and a second wheel disposed on a supporting surface, said wheel chock comprising:
a first block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first end having an angled contact panel and a vertical panel, said contact panel of said first block member configured for frictional engagement with said first wheel;
a second block member in spaced apart relation to said first block member, said second block member having a top side, a surface engaging bottom side, a first end, a second end, a first side wall and a second side wall, said first end of said second block member having an angled contact panel and a vertical panel, said contact panel of said second block member configured for frictional engagement with said second wheel;
a linkage assembly interconnecting said first block member and said second block member, said linkage assembly configured to generally displace said second block member in generally horizontal relation to said supporting surface and away from said first block member into abutting engagement with said second wheel for placement of said wheel chock into an engaged condition, said linkage assembly having a link member configured for over-center displacement so as to maintain said first block member and said second block member in said engaged condition, said link member rotatably connected to said first block member, said linkage assembly further comprising a first drive member, a second drive member telescopically received in said first drive member and a means for securely connecting said first drive member and said second drive member so as to fix the position of said first drive member relative to said second drive member, said first drive member pivotally connected to said link member, said second drive member pivotally connected to said second block member;
a handle operatively connected to said linkage assembly and configured to move said first block member and said second block member between said engaged condition having said first block member against said first wheel and said second block member against said second wheel so as to prevent movement of said vehicle and a disengaged condition having said second block member moved away from said second wheel so as to allow movement of said vehicle; and
a locking member at said first block member, said locking member received through one or more locking slots in said first block member so as to maintain said linkage assembly in said engaged condition.
18. The wheel chock of according to claim 17, wherein each of said contact panel of said first block member and said contact panel of said second block member are disposed at an angle of approximately 38 degrees to 45 degrees.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1-14. (canceled)
15. A minimally invasive system for treating a patient’s heart having heart valve regurgitation, comprising:
a. a valve configured to be secured within a passageway formed through the patient’s heart wall to provide instrument passageway into a chamber of the patient’s heart defined in part by the heart wall through which the passageway is formed;
b. a tissue grasping device configured to extend through the valve secured within the passageway into the chamber of the patient’s heart and having at least two grasping members configured to grasp valve leaflets; and
c. a tissue connecting member to connect free edges of valve leaflets.
16-54. (canceled)
55. A minimally invasive system for treating a patient’s mitral valve, comprising:
a. a valve which is configured to be secured within a passageway formed through a wall of the patient s heart defining in part a heart chamber and which allows passage of an instrument through the valve element into a chamber of the patient’s heart defined in part by the heart wall without significant blood loss; and
b. a tissue grasping device which is configured to extend through the valve secured within the passageway in the patient’s heart wall configured to grasp a free edge of at least one valve leaflet; and
c. an artificial chordae tendineae which has one end which is connectable to the free edge of at least one valve leaflet and one end which is secured to the heart wall through which the valve extends.
56. The system of claim 55 wherein the grasping device has two jaws which are configured to grasp the free edge of at least one valve leaflet to facilitate securing the end of the artificial chordae tendineae to the free edge of the valve leaflet.
57. The system of claim 55 wherein the end of the artificial chordae tendineae has a connecting member to facilitate securing the end to the edge of the valve leaflet.
58. The system of claim 55 including a stabilizing member for engaging at least one valve leaflet and holding the valve leaflet in a grasping location.
59. The system of claim 58 wherein the stabilizing member is a balloon catheter.
60. The system of claim 59 wherein the balloon catheter has an inflatable balloon on a distal portion thereof which engages at least one the valve leaflet.
61. The system of claim 60 wherein the balloon is formed of compliant or semi-compliant polymeric materials.
62. The system of claim 55 wherein the jaws of the grasping device are configured to grasp the free edges of a pair of valve leaflets.
63. The system of claim 62 including a tissue connecting member connected to one end of the artificial chordae tendineae to secure the end of the artificial chordae tendineae to the free edges of the pair of valve leaflets.
64. The system of claim 55 wherein the artificial chordae tendineae is formed of a non-compliant polymeric material.
65. The system of claim 55 wherein the artificial chordae tendineae is formed of polytetrafluoroethylene and has transverse dimensions of about 1 to about 3 mm.
66. The system of claim 57 wherein the grasping device comprises:
a. a pair of operative handles, with each handle being operatively connected to one of the jaws; and
b. an elongated shaft having an inner lumen configured to slidably receive the connecting member.
67. The grasping device of claim 66 wherein at least one of the jaws has a tapered groove to at least partially close the connecting member when the connecting member is advanced distally through the inner lumen into the opposing jaws.
68. The system of claim 57 wherein the connecting member has an open distal end and a closed proximal end.
69. The system of claim 68 wherein an artificial chordae tendineae strand is secured to the closed proximal end of the connecting member.
70. The system of claim 64 wherein the artificial chordae tendineae strand is configured to extend between one or more valve leaflets and the heart wall so as to position the valve leaflet having a torn or damaged chordae tendineae into an operating position.
71. The system of claim 70 wherein the artificial chordae tendineae strand is formed of non-compliant polymeric material.
72. The system of claim 55 wherein the valve leaflet has a torn or damaged chordae tendenae.
73. A method for treating a patient’s mitral valve having a valve leaflet, comprising:
a. advancing an artificial chordae tendineae having first and second ends into a chamber defined in part by a ventricular wall of the patient’s heart;
b. securing the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae to a free edge of the valve leaflet from within the patient’s heart; and
c. securing the second end of the artificial chordae tendenae to the ventricular wall which defines in part a heart chamber.
74. The method of claim 73 wherein the free edge of the valve leaflet is guided to a grasping location.
75. The method of claim 74 wherein a grasping device is advanced through the passageway in the ventricular wall into the left ventricle and grasps the free edge of the valve leaflet in the grasping location.
76. The method of claim 75 wherein the end of the artificial chordae tendenae is secured to the free edge of the valve leaflet when the free edge thereof is grasped by the grasping devices.
77. The method of claim 76 including withdrawing the grasping device from the patient’s heart and securing one end of the artificial chordae tendineae to the ventricular wall.
78. The method of claim 73 wherein the second end of the artificial chordae tendineae extends through a passageway in the patient’s ventricular wall and is secured to an exterior surface thereof.
79. The method of claim 73 including seating a valve into the passageway in the ventricular wall.
80. The method of claim 74 wherein the valve leaflet is guided to the grasping location by a stabilizer member.
81. The method of claim 80 wherein the stabilizer member is advanced through a passageway through the ventricular wall and which extends through the valve leaflets to the up-stream side of the valve leaflets.
82. The method of claim 73 wherein the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae is secured to the free edge of the valve leaflet with a connecting member.
83. The method of claim 73 wherein the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae is also secured to a free edge of an adjacent valve leaflet.
84. The method of claim 83 wherein the free edge of the valve leaflet and the free edge of the adjacent valve leaflet are secured together in a bow-tie configuration.
85. The method of claim 73 wherein the valve leaflet has a torn or damaged chordae tendineae.
86. A method for treating a patient’s mitral valve having a valve leaflet with a torn or damaged chordae tendineae, comprising:
a. advancing an artificial chordae tendineae having first and second ends into a chamber defined in part by a ventricular wall of the patient’s heart;
b. securing the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae to a free edge of the valve leaflet from within the patient’s heart; and
c. securing the second end of the artificial chordae tendenae within the heart chamber oriented with respect to the papillary muscle.
87. The method of claim 86 wherein the free edge of the valve leaflet is guided to a grasping location.
88. The method of claim 87 wherein a grasping device is advanced through the passageway in the ventricular wall into the left ventricle and grasps the free edge of the valve leaflet in the grasping location.
89. The method of claim 88 wherein the first end of the artificial chordae tendenae is secured to the free edge of the valve leaflet when the free edge thereof is grasped by the grasping devices.
90. The method of claim 89 including withdrawing the grasping device from the patient’s heart and securing one end of the artificial chordae tendineae to the ventricular wall.
91. The method of claim 89 wherein the second end of the artificial chordae tendineae extends through a passageway in the patients ventricular wall and is secured to an exterior surface thereof.
92. The method of claim 91 including seating a valve into the passageway in the ventricular wall.
93. The method of claim 87 wherein the valve leaflet is guided to the grasping location by a stabilizer member.
94. The method of claim 93 wherein the stabilizer member is advanced through the valve leaflets to a location on the up-stream side of the valve leaflets.
95. The method of claim 87 wherein the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae is secured to the free edge of the valve leaflet with a connecting member.
96. The method of claim 87 wherein the first end of the artificial chordae tendineae is also secured to a free edge of an adjacent valve leaflet.
97. The method of claim 96 wherein the free edge of the valve leaflet and the free edge of the adjacent valve leaflet are secured together in a bow-tie configuration.
98. The method of claim 87 wherein the valve leaflet has a torn or damaged chordae tendineae.