Apparatus and methods for valve removal

• US 20020173811A1
• Filed: 05/21/2001
• Published: 11/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic 3F Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: Medtronic 3F Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng, Quijano, Rodolfo C.
• Application Number:
  US09/861,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20020173811A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre

Abstract

This invention discloses a medical catheter and methods for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally. The method may comprise inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve; deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet; deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and removing said defective valve from the patient.

Claims

1. A method for removing a defective valve from a patient, the method comprising:

immobilizing at least a valve leaflet of said defective valve;

separating a valve base from a valve root of the defective valve, wherein the valve base comprises at least one commissure; and

removing said defective valve.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein a step of immobilizing the at least one valve leaflet comprises coupling a free edge of the at least one valve leaflet using a coupling mechanism of an endoluminal catheter, wherein said catheter has a cutting mechanism for separating the valve base from the valve root of said defective valve.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the cutting mechanism is located at a distal section of said catheter and configured to be at a predetermined position relative to the coupling mechanism.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defective valve is a venous valve.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the defective valve is a cardiac valve.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cardiac valve is an aortic valve.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cardiac valve is a pulmonary valve.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the cardiac valve is a tricuspid valve.

10. The method according to claim 2, wherein the cutting mechanism is a sharp-edge element configured to separate the valve base from the valve root of the defective valve.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein a radiofrequency source is coupled to the sharp-edge element configured for heating and cutting said valve base.

12. The method according to claim 2, wherein the method is performed by an endoluminal procedure.

13. The method according to claim 2, wherein the cutting mechanism is a fiber optic laser element configured to separate the valve base from the valve root of the defective valve.

15. The medical catheter according to claim 14, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a stapling element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said stapling element.

16. The medical catheter according to claim 14, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gripping element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gripping element.

17. The medical catheter according to claim 14, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gluing element configured to glue and bond a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gluing element.

18. The medical catheter according to claim 14, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a sharp-edge element, and wherein a radiofrequency source is coupled to said sharp-edge element adapted for enhancing separation of the valve base of said defective valve.

19. The medical catheter according to claim 14, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a fiber optic laser element, and wherein a laser energy source is coupled to said fiber optic laser element adapted for separating the valve base of said defective valve.

14. A medical catheter for removing a defective valve from a patient comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft having a catheter distal end, a catheter distal section, a catheter proximal end, and at least a lumen between said catheter distal end and said catheter proximal end;

a deployable inner catheter located within one of said at least a lumen;

a coupling mechanism located at the catheter distal section configured to grip and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet of the defective valve; and

a cutting mechanism mounted at a distal end of the deployable inner catheter, wherein the cutting mechanism is configured to cut and separate a valve base of said defective valve from a valve root of said defective valve.

20. A method for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally, the method comprising:

(a) inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve;

(b) deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet;

(c) deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and

(d) removing said defective valve from the patient.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the defective valve is a venous valve.

22. The method according to claim 20, wherein the defective valve is a cardiac valve.