Off-center tissue anchors
First Claim
1. A tissue anchor for delivery in a constrained state within a deployment tool, the tissue anchor comprising:
- a shaft;
a tissue-coupling element, which (a) extends from a distal end of the shaft, (b) comprises a wire comprising a shape-memory alloy, and (c) is configured to automatically transition to a predetermined shape when unconstrained by the deployment tool upon being released from the constrained state within the deployment tool, wherein the predetermined shape of the tissue-coupling element is generally orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the shaft;
a head, which (a) is axially fixed to the shaft such that a distal end of the head is proximate the tissue-coupling element, and (b) is shaped so as to define a passage that extends to the distal end of the head;
a flexible elongate tension member, which includes (a) a distal portion that is fixed to a site on the tissue-coupling element, and (b) a proximal portion, which is slidably disposed through the passage defined by the head of the tissue anchor; and
a load-limiting element, which is attached to the flexible elongate tension member,wherein the load-limiting element and the passage are sized and shaped such that the size and shape of the passage prevent proximal movement of the load-limiting element past the passage, such that the load-limiting element limits a total load that can be applied to the tissue-coupling element by the flexible elongate tension member.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A tissue anchor is provided for delivery in a constrained state within a deployment tool. The tissue anchor includes a tissue-coupling element; a flexible elongate tension member, which includes (a) a distal portion that is fixed to a site on the tissue-coupling element, and (b) a proximal portion, which is slidably disposed through a passage defined by the tissue anchor; and a load-limiting element, which is attached to the flexible elongate tension member. The load-limiting element and the passage are sized and shaped such that the size and shape of the passage prevent proximal movement of the load-limiting element past the passage, such that the load-limiting element limits a total load that can be applied to the tissue-coupling element by the flexible elongate tension member.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A tissue anchor for delivery in a constrained state within a deployment tool, the tissue anchor comprising:
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a shaft; a tissue-coupling element, which (a) extends from a distal end of the shaft, (b) comprises a wire comprising a shape-memory alloy, and (c) is configured to automatically transition to a predetermined shape when unconstrained by the deployment tool upon being released from the constrained state within the deployment tool, wherein the predetermined shape of the tissue-coupling element is generally orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the shaft; a head, which (a) is axially fixed to the shaft such that a distal end of the head is proximate the tissue-coupling element, and (b) is shaped so as to define a passage that extends to the distal end of the head; a flexible elongate tension member, which includes (a) a distal portion that is fixed to a site on the tissue-coupling element, and (b) a proximal portion, which is slidably disposed through the passage defined by the head of the tissue anchor; and a load-limiting element, which is attached to the flexible elongate tension member, wherein the load-limiting element and the passage are sized and shaped such that the size and shape of the passage prevent proximal movement of the load-limiting element past the passage, such that the load-limiting element limits a total load that can be applied to the tissue-coupling element by the flexible elongate tension member. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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delivering, to a cardiac chamber, a tissue-coupling element of a tissue anchor while the tissue anchor is in a constrained state within a deployment tool, wherein the tissue-coupling element extends from a distal end of a shaft of the tissue anchor and comprises a wire comprising a shape-memory alloy; delivering the tissue-coupling element through a cardiac tissue wall from a first side of the cardiac tissue wall to a second side of the cardiac tissue wall; deploying the tissue-coupling element from the deployment tool on the second side of the cardiac tissue wall, such that the tissue-coupling element expands and automatically transitions on the second side of the cardiac tissue wall to a predetermined shape that is generally orthogonal to a central longitudinal axis of the shaft, thereby anchoring the tissue-coupling element to the cardiac tissue wall, wherein the tissue anchor further comprises a flexible elongate tension member, which includes (a) a distal portion that is fixed to a site on the tissue-coupling element, and (b) a proximal portion, which is slidably disposed through a passage that is defined by a head of the tissue anchor and extends to a distal end of the head, wherein the head is axially fixed to the shaft such that a distal end of the head is proximate the tissue-coupling element; partially compressing the tissue-coupling element by applying tension to the flexible elongate tension member, until the passage prevents proximal movement, past the passage, of a load-limiting element that is attached to the flexible elongate tension member, such that the load-limiting element limits a total load that can be applied to the tissue-coupling element by the flexible elongate tension member; and after the passage prevents proximal movement of the load-limiting element past the passage, applying, to the flexible elongate tension member, additional tension that does not further compress the tissue-coupling element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification