71results about How to "Reduce regurgitation" 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.

The invention includes methods of and apparatus for endovascularly replacing a heart valve of a patient. One aspect of the invention provides a method including the steps of endovascularly delivering a replacement valve and an expandable anchor to a vicinity of the heart valve in an unexpanded configuration; and applying an external non-hydraulic or non-pneumatic actuation force on the anchor to change the shape of the anchor, such as by applying proximally and / or distally directed force on the anchor using a releasable deployment tool to expand and contract the anchor or parts of the anchor.

The invention includes a novel method and system to achieve leaflet coaptation in a cardiac valve percutaneously by creation of neochordae to prolapsing valve segments. This technique is especially useful in cases of ruptured chordae, but may be utilized in any segment of prolapsing leaflet. The technique described herein has the additional advantage of being adjustable in the beating heart. This allows tailoring of leaflet coaptation height under various loading conditions using image-guidance, such as echocardiography. This offers an additional distinct advantage over conventional open-surgery placement of artificial chordae. In traditional open surgical valve repair, chord length must be estimated in the arrested heart and may or may not be correct once the patient is weaned from cardiopulmonary bypass. The technique described below also allows for placement of multiple artificial chordae, as dictated by the patient's pathophysiology.

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.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a prosthesis that can be implanted within a heart to at least partially block gaps that may be present between the two mitral valve leaflets. In one preferred embodiment, the prosthesis includes an anchoring ring that expands within the left atrium to anchor the prosthesis and a pocket member fixed to the anchoring ring. The pocket member is positioned within the mitral valve, between the leaflets so that an open end of the pocket member is positioned within the left ventricle. When the mitral valve is open, blood flows past the pocket member, maintaining the pocket member in a collapsed state. When the mitral valve closes, the backpressure of the blood pushes into the pocket member, expanding the pocket member to an inflated shape. The mitral valve leaflets contact the expanded pocket member, allowing the prosthesis to block at least a portion of the openings between the leaflets, thereby minimizing regurgitated blood flow into the left atrium.

A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation.

Devices and methods are described herein which are directed to the treatment of a patient's heart having, or one which is susceptible to heart failure, to improve diastolic function.

A method for reducing mitral regurgitation includes deploying deforming matter into a selected one of (i) a mitral valve annulus adjacent a posterior leaflet, and (ii) tissue adjacent the mitral valve annulus and proximate the posterior leaflet, to cause conformational change in the mitral valve annulus to increase mitral valve leaflet coaptation.

In one embodiment, the present invention provides a prosthesis that can be implanted within a heart to at least partially block gaps that may be present between the two mitral valve leaflets. In one preferred embodiment, the prosthesis includes an anchoring ring that expands within the left atrium to anchor the prosthesis and a pocket member fixed to the anchoring ring. The pocket member is positioned within the mitral valve, between the leaflets so that an open end of the pocket member is positioned within the left ventricle. When the mitral valve is open, blood flows past the pocket member, maintaining the pocket member in a collapsed state. When the mitral valve closes, the backpressure of the blood pushes into the pocket member, expanding the pocket member to an inflated shape. The mitral valve leaflets contact the expanded pocket member, allowing the prosthesis to block at least a portion of the openings between the leaflets, thereby minimizing regurgitated blood flow into the left atrium.

A method of treating regurgitation of a mitral valve in a patient's heart. The method includes the steps of: delivering a tissue shaping device to the coronary sinus; and deploying the tissue shaping device to reduce mitral valve regurgitation, the deploying step comprising applying a force through the coronary sinus wall toward the mitral valve solely proximal to a crossover point where a coronary artery passes between a coronary sinus and the mitral valve. The invention is also a set of devices for use in treating mitral valve regurgitation. The set includes a plurality of tissue shaping devices having different lengths, each of the tissue shaping devices being configured to be deliverable to a coronary sinus of a patient within a catheter having an outer diameter no greater than ten french.

Methods of and devices for restoring the normal geometry of a heart, including but not limited to the structures supporting the atrioventricular valves. The techniques and devices described herein operate on the principle of displacement, both active and passive, to reverse cardiac remodeling and limit ischemic atrioventricular valve regurgitation.

Devices, systems, and methods employ an implant that is sized and configured to attach to the annulus of a dysfunctional heart valve annulus. In use, the implant extends across the major axis of the annulus above and / or along the valve annulus. The implant reshapes the major axis dimension and / or other surrounding anatomic structures. The implant restores to the heart valve annulus and leaflets a more functional anatomic shape and tension. The more functional anatomic shape and tension are conducive to coaptation of the leaflets, which, in turn, reduces retrograde flow or regurgitation. The implant improves function to the valve, without surgically cinching, resecting, and / or fixing in position large portions of a dilated annulus, or without the surgical fixation of ring-like structures.

Devices and methods for reshaping a mitral valve annulus are provided. One preferred device is configured for deployment in the right atrium and is shaped to apply a force along the atrial septum. The device causes the atrial septum to deform and push the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve in a posterior direction for reducing mitral valve regurgitation. Another preferred device is deployed in the left ventricular outflow tract at a location adjacent the aortic valve. The device is expandable for urging the anterior leaflet toward the posterior leaflet. Another preferred device comprises a tether configured to be attached to opposing regions of the mitral valve annulus.

Devices and methods are described herein which are directed to the treatment of a patient's heart having, or one which is susceptible to heart failure, to improve diastolic function.

A mitral valve annulus reshaping device includes at least a portion that is formed of a biocompatible shape memory alloy SMA having a characteristic temperature, Af, that is preferably below body temperature. The device is constrained in an unstable martensite (UM) state while being introduced through a catheter that passes through the venous system and into the coronary sinus of the heart. The reshaping device is deployed adjacent to the mitral valve annulus of the heart as it is forced from the catheter. When released from the constraint of the catheter, the SMA of the device at least partially converts from the UM state to an austenitic state and attempts to change to a programmed shape that exerts a force on the adjacent tissue and modifies the shape of the annulus. The strain of the SMA can be varied when the device is within the coronary sinus.

Devices, systems, and methods employ an implant that is sized and configured to attach in, on, or near the annulus of a dysfunctional heart valve. In use, the implant extends either across the minor axis of the annulus, or across the major axis of the annulus, or both. The implant restores to the heart valve annulus and leaflets a more functional anatomic shape and tension. The more functional anatomic shape and tension are conducive to coaptation of the leaflets, which, in turn, reduces retrograde flow or regurgitation.

One aspect of the invention is a method of treating mitral valve regurgitation in a patient. The method includes the steps of delivering a tissue shaping device to the patient's coronary sinus in an unexpanded configuration within a catheter having an outer diameter no more than nine or ten french, with the tissue shaping device including a connector disposed between a distal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire and a proximal expandable anchor comprising flexible wire, the device having a length of 60 mm or less; and deploying the device to reduce mitral valve regurgitation, such as by anchoring the distal expandable anchor by placing the distal expandable anchor flexible wire in contact with a wall of the coronary sinus, e.g., by permitting the distal expandable anchor to self-expand or by applying an actuating force to the distal expandable anchor and possibly locking the distal expandable anchor after performing the applying step. The invention also includes a device for performing the method.

Devices and methods for reshaping a mitral valve annulus are provided. One device according to the invention is configured for deployment in the right atrium and is shaped to apply a force along the atrial septum. The device causes the atrial septum to deform and push the anterior leaflet of the mitral valve in a posterior direction for reducing mitral valve regurgitation. Another embodiment of a device is deployed in the left ventricular outflow tract at a location adjacent the aortic valve. The device may be expandable for urging the anterior leaflet toward the posterior leaflet. Another embodiment of the device includes a first anchor, a second anchor, and a bridge, with the bridge having sufficient length to reach from the coronary sinus to the right atrium and / or superior or inferior vena cava. In a further embodiment a device includes a middle anchor positioned on the bridge between the distal and proximal anchors.

A mitral annuloplasty ring that has an outward and an upward posterior bow. The ring defines a closed, modified oval shape with a minor-major axis dimension ratio of between about 3.3:4 to 4:4. The ring is made of a material that will substantially resist distortion when subjected to the stress imparted thereon after implantation in the mitral valve annulus of an operating human heart. The outward and upward posterior bow of the annuloplasty ring corrects for pathologies associated with mitral valve prolapse, as seen with Barlow's syndrome for instance, in which the leaflets tend to be elongated or floppy. Desirably, the outward bow includes a more pronounced outward bulge having an angular extent that approximately equals the angular extent of the upward bow. Sections adjacent the outward bulge may be relatively straight.

Devices, systems, and methods employ a heart implant structure that is sized and configured to be positioned in a left atrium above the plane of a native mitral heart valve annulus to affect mitral heart valve function. The implant structure includes a portion sized and configured to engage a wall of the left atrium above the plane of the native mitral valve annulus and to extend across the left atrium along a minor axis of the annulus.

A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation.

A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation.

A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation.

A heart valve implant is disclosed herein. The heart valve implant comprises an inflatable valve body, a shaft, an anchor assembly and an inflation (injection) port. Also disclosed herein, are methods of trans-apically and trans-septally delivering a heart valve implant within a heart such that the valve body can be inflated in situ to partially or completely restrict blood flow through a heart valve in a closed position. The inflation (injection) port permits inflation of the valve body with an adjustable amount of an inflation fluid to attain a desired degree of inflation of the valve body when disposed within the heart valve.

An apparatus is provided for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve. The apparatus includes an annular support member and at least one posterior leaflet support member. The annular support member has an anterior end portion, a posterior end portion, and oppositely disposed first and second intermediate portions extending between the end portions. The at least one posterior leaflet support member is securely connected to the annular support member and is dimensioned to extend across a portion of a free edge of a posterior valve leaflet. The posterior leaflet support member comprises an arcuate center portion integrally formed with and extending between first and second end portions. The arcuate center portion has a concave shape relative to the anterior end portion. At least one of the first and second end portions is securely attached to the posterior end portion.

An apparatus is provided for treating regurgitation of blood flow through a diseased heart valve. The apparatus includes an annular support member and at least one posterior leaflet support member. The annular support member has an anterior end portion, a posterior end portion, and oppositely disposed first and second intermediate portions extending between the end portions. The at least one posterior leaflet support member is securely connected to the annular support member and is dimensioned to extend across a portion of a free edge of a posterior valve leaflet. The posterior leaflet support member comprises an arcuate center portion integrally formed with and extending between first and second end portions. The arcuate center portion has a concave shape relative to the anterior end portion. At least one of the first and second end portions is securely attached to the posterior end portion.