Method and apparatus for improving mitral valve function
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
- inserting apparatus 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.
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Abstract
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.
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Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus 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.
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2. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to move at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve anteriorly, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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3. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to reduce the degree of 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.
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4. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to increase the natural radius of 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.
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5. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, the apparatus being configured so that when the apparatus is positioned in the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the distal and proximal ends will apply a posteriorly-directed force to the walls of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion will apply an anteriorly-directed force to the walls of the coronary sinus, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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6. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a substantially straight elongated body into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the substantially straight elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially straight elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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7. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a substantially rigid elongated body into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the substantially rigid elongated body being configured relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially rigid elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a different configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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8. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a straight, substantially rigid elongated body into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the straight, substantially rigid elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the straight, substantially rigid elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 35)
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21. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a body having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, the body being configured so that when the body is positioned in the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the distal and proximal ends will apply a posteriorly-directed force to the walls of the coronary sinus, and the intermediate portion will apply an anteriorly-directed force to the walls of the coronary sinus, whereby to move the posterior annulus of the mitral valve anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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22. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a substantially straight elongated body adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the substantially straight elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially straight elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus, moving it anteriorly, and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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23. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a substantially rigid elongated body adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the substantially rigid elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially rigid elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a different configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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24. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a straight, substantially rigid elongated body adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the straight, substantially rigid elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the straight, substantially rigid elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, it will cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus, moving it anteriorly, and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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33. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to invert 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.
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34. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
an elongated body adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to invert 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.
Specification