Mitral shield

• US 20020065554A1
• Filed: 10/25/2001
• Published: 05/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ancora Heart, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Viacor, Inc.
• Inventors: Streeter, Richard B.
• Granted Patent: US 7,070,618 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses

Abstract

A valve shield comprising a shaped sheet of material adapted to be affixed to the annulus of a valve and adapted to extend over at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the valve so as to assist or replace the closing function of that valve leaflet.

Claims

1. A valve shield comprising a shaped sheet of material adapted to be affixed to the annulus of a valve and adapted to extend over at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the valve so as to assist or replace the closing function of that valve leaflet.

2. A valve shield according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of material is adapted to prevent leaflet prolapse.

3. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is crescent shaped.

4. A valve shield according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the sheet of material extending over at least a portion of the at least one leaflet includes at least one opening therein.

5. A valve shield according to claim 3 wherein the portion of the sheet of material extending over at least a portion of the at least one leaflet is substantially solid.

6. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is adapted to be fastened to the annulus of the valve with sutures.

7. A valve shield according to claim 6 wherein the sheet of material includes preformed holes for receiving the suture.

8. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the sheet of material is adapted to be fastened to the annulus of the valve with staples.

9. A valve shield according to claim 8 wherein the sheet of material includes staples formed integral therewith.

10. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the material comprises biological material.

11. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the material comprises periocardium.

12. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the material comprises non-biological material.

13. A valve shield according to claim 1 wherein the material is round and includes at least one opening therein.

14. A valve shield according to claim 1 wherein the shaped sheet of material comprises a wire frame.

15. A valve shield according to claim 2 wherein the shaped sheet of material comprises a crescent shape with a mid-line projection adapted to support a second leaflet against prolapse.

16. A valve shield according to claim 1 wherein the sheet of material is adapted to extend over at least two leaflets.

17. A valve shield according to claim 16 wherein the sheet of material includes at least one opening therein.

18. A method for reducing regurgitation in a valve having a plurality of leaflets, said method comprising:

providing a valve shield comprising a shaped sheet of material; and

affixing the valve shield to the annulus of the valve so that it extends over at least a portion of at least one leaflet of the valve so as to assist or replace the closing function of that valve leaflet.