1484results about "Annuloplasty rings" patented technology

The methods, devices, and systems are provided for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, can be repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures may be modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber. Preferably, the tissue structures will be temporarily modified prior to permanent modification. For example, opposed valve leaflets may be temporarily grasped and held into position prior to permanent attachment.

A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising: providing a plication assembly comprising a first anchoring element, a second anchoring element, and a linkage construct connecting the first anchoring element to the second anchoring element; positioning the first anchoring element in the coronary sinus adjacent to the mitral annulus, and positioning the second anchoring element in another area of the mitral annulus so that the linkage construct extends across the opening of the mitral valve and holds the mitral valve in a reconfigured configuration so as to reduce mitral regurgitation. An apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising: a plication assembly comprising a first anchoring element, a second anchoring element, and a linkage construct connecting the first anchoring element to the second anchoring element; and a catheter adapted to deliver the first anchoring element to the coronary sinus.

A novel system for performing a heart valve annuloplasty. The system involves the use of a plication band. In one embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by constriction of the plication band itself. More particularly, each plication band enters the tissue at two or more points which are spaced from one other by a distance which is dictated by the geometry of the plication band. Subsequent constriction of the plication band causes these points to move toward each other, thereby constricting the tissue trapped between these points and thus reducing the overall circumference of the valve annulus. In a second embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by linking multiple plication bands to one other, using a linkage construct, and then using a shortening of the length of the linkage construct between each plication band so as to gather the tissue between each plication band, whereby to reduce the overall circumference of the valve annulus.

A device, a system and a method for contracting tissue in a mammalian body. The contracting device comprises a body and a plurality of legs radially splayed there from. Each leg includes a snap-acting spring tip. When a force is applied to the device, the tips operate to transform the device from a deployment state into a treatment state. Each leg may also be bent at one or more deformation elements in response to the application of force. The system comprises a contracting device slidably received within a delivery catheter. The method of contracting tissue in a mammalian body comprises delivering a contracting device in a lumen of a catheter proximate a treatment area, releasing the contracting device from the catheter, positioning legs of the contracting device on tissue to be contracted, exerting a force on the contracting device, transforming the device into a treatment state, and reducing a compass of the tissue in response to the attainment of the treatment state.

A device, kit and method may include or employ an implantable device (e.g., annuloplasty implant) and a tool operable to implant such. The implantable device is positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) and operable to constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The tissue anchors may be guided into precise position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guide frame of the tool and embedded in an annulus of the orifice. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished via a variety of structures, for example by cinching a flexible cable or via a anchored annuloplasty ring, the cable or ring attached to the tissue anchors. The annuloplasty ring may be delivered in an unanchored, generally elongated configuration, and implanted in an anchored generally arch, arcuate or annular configuration. Such may approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve, to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly, thereby improving leaflet coaptation to eliminate mitral regurgitation.

An anchor deployment tool includes a flexible outer tube, within which is positioned a flexible inner shaft, and a rotating deployment element coupled to a distal end of the shaft. The tool is configured to provide an anchor storage area, which initially stores a plurality of tissue anchors, such that the inner shaft passes through channels of the anchors along entire longitudinal lengths of the anchors, and the anchors are within the outer tube. The rotating deployment element is configured to directly engage the anchors in the anchor storage area one at a time, advance each of the anchors while engaged in a distal direction, and deploy each of the anchors through the distal tube end and into tissue of a subject. Other embodiments are also described.

Methods for reconfiguring an atrioventricular heart valve that may use systems comprising a partial or complete annuloplasty rings proportioned to reconfigure a heart valve that has become in some way incompetent, a pair of trigonal sutures or implantable anchors, and a plurality of staples which may have pairs of legs that are sized and shaped for association with the ring at spaced locations along its length. These systems permit relative axial movement between the staples and the ring, whereby a patient's heart valve can be reconfigured in a manner that does not deter subtle shifting of the native valve components. Shape-memory alloy material staples may have legs with free ends that interlock following implantation. Annuloplasty rings may be complete or partial and may be fenestrated. One alternative method routes a flexible wire, preferably of shape-memory material, through the bights of pre-implanted staples. Other alternative systems use linkers of shape-memory material having hooked ends to interengage with staples or other implanted supports which, following implantation, decrease in effective length and pull the staples or other supports toward one another so as to create desired curvature of the reconfigured valve. These linkers may be separate from the supports or may be integral with them and may have a variety of shapes and forms. Various of these systems may be implanted non-invasively using a delivery catheter.

A blood flow controlling apparatus, which is configured to be implanted into a blood circulatory system of a patient, comprises an anchoring means, which is arranged to fix the position of the apparatus in the blood circulatory system, and a valve means being connected to the anchoring means. The valve means is configured to be arranged within the blood circulatory system and is configured to be extendable in a direction transverse to blood flow in order to make contact with native tissue when inserted in the blood circulatory system. The valve means is further configured to release said contact as a result of being exposed to blood flow in a permitted direction.

A medical apparatus and method suitable for remodeling a mitral valve annulus adjacent to the coronary sinus. The apparatus comprises an elongate body having a proximal region and a distal region. Each of the proximal and distal regions is dimensioned to reside completely within the vascular system. The elongate body may be moved from a first configuration for transluminal delivery to at least a portion of the coronary sinus to a second configuration for remodeling the mitral valve annulus proximate the coronary sinus. A forming element may be attached to the elongate body for manipulating the elongate body from the first transluminal configuration to the second remodeling configuration. Further, the elongate body may comprise a tube having a plurality of transverse slots therein.

A valve implant or prosthesis includes a skirt or prosthetic valve leaflet configured to cover one of the leaflets of the valve to be repaired in a patient's heart. In one embodiment, a heart valve prosthesis includes a curved member and a skirt. The curved member can have first and second ends and be adapted to form a partial ring along a portion of one of the valve annulae in the patient's heart. Alternatively, the curved member can form a full ring that is adapted to extend along the entire valve annulus. The skirt extends along the curved member and depends therefrom. This prosthesis is especially useful in treating mitral valve insufficiency. In this case, the skirt can be configured so that when the prosthesis is secured to the mitral valve along the mitral valve annulus, the skirt covers the posterior leaflet and the opposed edges of the skirt and the anterior leaflet coapt. In addition, when the curved member is secured to the posterior portion of the mitral valve annulus, further annulus dilation can be minimized or eliminated. Implant delivery apparatus is provided for rapid implant delivery and securement to the valve.

An apparatus and method for replacing a cardiac valve includes an expandable support member having oppositely disposed first and second ends, a main body portion extending between the ends, and a prosthetic valve within the main body portion. The main body portion has an annular shape for expanding into position in the annulus of the valve. The first and second ends include a plurality of upper and lower wing members movable from a collapsed condition into an extended condition for respectively engaging a first section of cardiac tissue surrounding the valve and for engaging a portion of the native valve leaflets to pin the leaflets back against the annulus. The second end further includes at least two strut members spaced apart from each other. A respective one of the strut members is attached to at least one commissural section of the prosthetic valve to prevent prolapse of the valve leaflets.

A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state. The system is particularly suited for rapid deployment of heart valves in a conventional open-heart surgical environment.

Devices, systems and methods supplement, repair, or replace a native heart valve. The devices, systems, and methods employ an implant that, in use, extends adjacent a valve annulus. The implant includes a mobile neoleaflet element that occupies the space of at least a portion of one native valve leaflet. The implant mimics the one-way valve function of a native leaflet, to resist or prevent retrograde flow. The implant restores normal coaptation of the leaflets to resist retrograde flow, thereby resisting eversion and / or prolapse, which, in turn, reduces regurgitation.

A tissue connection device is provided for use on a patient at a treatment site. The device comprises an elongate member having a distal end and a proximal end. The elongate member has a first, substantially linear configuration during delivery through an elongate delivery device, wherein the first configuration is sufficient to allow said member to be delivered percutaneously into the patient to the treatment site. The elongate member has a second, substantially circular configuration when said member disengages from the delivery device, wherein the second configuration is sufficient to support tissue at the treatment site. The elongate member in the second configuration defines a single ring.

A catheter based system for treating mitral valve regurgitation includes a restraining device having a flexible member, a plurality of movable anchor members attached to the outer surface of the flexible member, and an adjustment filament attached to the ends of the flexible member. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for attaching a flexible restraining device to the annulus of a mitral valve, and adjusting the length of the adjustment filament attached to the flexible member of the restraining device, thereby reshaping the mitral valve annulus so that the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve close during ventricular contraction.

Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

A device comprising a reference ring that may be temporarily disposed in abutment with the inferior perimeter surface of a heart valve to aid non-optical visualization of the valve annulus. The reference ring is elastically transformable between a straight delivery configuration and a generally circular or helical deployment configuration. The reference ring may include an inflatable portion that can be temporarily expanded on the inferior side of the valve annulus to deform the valve annulus into a temporary ledge or shelf for apposition with an annuloplasty ring. A system comprising a delivery catheter including a lumen with an exit port, the reference ring being slidably positionable within the lumen and being extendable from the exit port.

A medical device for treating a heart having a faulty heart valve is disclosed. The medical device comprises a ligature including a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member is used. The ligature is percutaneously deployable into a patient with a faulty heart valve wherein the first anchoring member to anchor to a first tissue area of the heart and the second anchoring member to anchor to a second tissue area of the heart.

A prosthetic implant for treating a diseased aortic valve is described. The prosthetic implant includes a substantially tubular body configured to be positioned in an aorta of a patient, at or near the patient's aortic valve. The body includes a lumen extending through the body from a proximal end to a distal end of the body; and an adjustable frame surrounding the lumen. The prosthetic implant further includes at least one adjustable element located in or on the body and extending at least partially around a circumference of the lumen. The at least one adjustable element includes a shape memory material and is transformable, in response to application of an activation energy, from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein the first configuration and second configuration differ in a size of at least one dimension of the at least one adjustable element. The at least one adjustable element may engage at least one of a root of the aorta, an annulus of the aortic valve, and the patient's left ventricle, when the at least one adjustable element is in the second configuration.

A catheter-based, annulus reduction device and system for cardiac valve repair and method of using the same. The system is usable for treating mitral valve regurgitation and comprises a catheter, a reduction ring carried within the catheter, the reduction ring including a plurality of exit ports formed in a side wall of the reduction ring and filament received in the reduction ring. The filament includes a plurality of radially extendible barbs corresponding to the sidewall openings. The reduction ring carrying the filament is deployed adjacent a mitral valve annulus and the filament is translated relative to the reduction ring to deploy the barbs through the exit ports and into the annulus and to further translate the reduction ring with deployed barbs to reshape the annulus.

A device and method for treatment of atrioventricular regurgitation comprises a suturing device. The suturing device is configured to be introducible, via blood vessels leading to the heart, to two leaflets of the atrioventricular valve between the atrium and a corresponding ventricle of the heart. The suturing device is configured for binding together the two leaflets along the free edges of the leaflets. A method of using the device includes inserting the suturing device into a catheter, introducing the catheter to the heart and positioning a distal end of the catheter close to two leaflets of an atrioventricular valve, capturing the free edges of the two leaflets with the suturing device in its open state, binding together the two leaflets by transition of the suturing device into its closed state, and retracting the catheter from the heart. As a result, the closing of the valve is improved.

A remote control flexible instrument system, employing a shaft which supports a tool, is described in which the has proximal and distal ends with at least a portion thereof extending through a lumen of the human body so as to locate the shaft at an internal target site. A master station including an input device provides control of the instrument situated at a slave station. The master station can control at least one degree-of-freedom of the flexible instrument. A controller intercouples the master and slave stations and is operated in accordance with a computer algorithm that receives a command from the input device for controlling at least one degree-of-freedom of the catheter so as to respond in accordance with action at the input device. The flexible instrument further comprises a controlled flexible segment along the shaft, for controlled bending at the flexible segment to guide the shaft and to dispose the tool at an operative site.

A two-stage or component-based valve prosthesis that can be quickly and easily implanted during a surgical procedure is provided. The prosthetic valve comprises a support structure that is deployed at a treatment site. The prosthetic valve further comprises a valve member configured to be quickly connected to the support structure. The support structure may take the form of a stent that is expanded at the site of a native valve. If desired, the native leaflets may remain and the stent may be used to hold the native valve open. In this case, the stent may be balloon expandable and configured to resist the powerful recoil force of the native leaflets. The support structure is provided with a coupling means for attachment to the valve member, thereby fixing the position of the valve member in the body. The valve member may be a non-expandable type, or may be expandable from a compressed state to an expanded state. The system is particularly suited for rapid deployment of heart valves in a conventional open-heart surgical environment.