Device and method for modifying the shape of a body organ

• US 20030225454A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 12/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Cardiac Pacemakers Incorporated (Boston Scientific Corporation)
• Inventors: Mathis, Mark L., Reuter, David G., Nieminen, Gregory D.
• Granted Patent: US 6,960,229 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2451 Inserts in the coronary sinus for correcting the valve shape

Abstract

An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

Claims

1. A device for modifying the shape of tissue adjacent to a lumen, the device comprising:

an anchor adapted to securely contact a lumen wall when the device is deployed in a lumen by providing an unequal distribution of anchoring force around a circumferential section of the lumen wall; and

a reshaper extending from the anchor and adapted to contact the lumen wall when the device is deployed in the lumen.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the anchor is a first anchor, the device further comprising a second anchor, the reshaper extending from the first anchor to the second anchor.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the lumen is a coronary sinus, the anchor being adapted to securely contact a wall of the coronary sinus with radially outwardly directed force when the device is deployed in the coronary sinus, the reshaper being adapted to contact the coronary sinus wall and to apply force to the posterior of a mitral valve annulus through the coronary sinus wall.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the anchor extends axially for an anchor length along the circumferential section of the lumen wall, the anchor being adapted to distend the lumen wall variably along the anchor length.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the anchor comprises a flexible member extending from the reshaper in a curved path not parallel to the central axis of the lumen.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein the flexible member is adapted to contact the lumen wall along substantially all of the flexible member'"'"'s length.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein the flexible member is adapted to extend from the axis of the reshaper in at least a first place and a second place.

8. The device of claim 7 wherein the flexible member comprises two arms extending from the first place and two arms extending from the second place.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the flexible member is adapted to have the two arms extending from the first place and the two arms extending from the second place meet at a third place.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the flexible member is adapted to have the third place outside of the axis of the reshaper.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the flexible member is formed as a single element.

12. The device of claim 8 wherein the flexible member is formed as a single element.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the flexible member is formed in a bowed figure eight pattern.

14. A method of modifying the shape of tissue adjacent to a lumen, the method comprising:

delivering a device into the lumen, the device comprising an anchor and a reshaper extending from the anchor;

deploying the anchor to provide an unequal distribution of anchoring force around a circumferential section of the lumen wall; and

placing the reshaper in contact with the lumen wall to apply force to the lumen wall to modify the shape of tissue adjacent to the lumen wall.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the anchor is a first anchor, the method further comprising deploying a second anchor.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the placing step comprises applying a proximally-directed force to the anchor and the reshaper.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein the deploying step comprises expanding the anchor from a first configuration to a second configuration.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the lumen is a coronary sinus, the placing step comprising placing the reshaper in contact with a wall of the coronary sinus to apply force to a mitral valve annulus through the coronary sinus wall.