External venous valve stents for the correction of incompetent venous valves

• US 20040133267A1
• Filed: 02/13/2004
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rodney James Lane
• Original Assignee: Rodney James Lane
• Inventors: Lane, Rodney James
• Granted Patent: US 7,335,214 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/1.24
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2475 Venous valves

Abstract

Improvements to external stents to render incompetent venous valves competent are disclosed. The device is an inelastic bio-compatible cuff (1) that encircles the venous valve cusps (15) decreasing the internal diameter of the vein wall (11) to allow apposition of the cusps (15) and create competence. The improvements over previous designs include the addition of calibrated known diameters to create competence for different phenotypes. The different diameters are indicated by holes (2, 3, 4) in the body (1). The buckle attachment (6) allows the body of the device to become conical or inverted to become pyramidal as appropriate. The buckle (5) is wider than prior art designs to allow the device to become elliptical at smaller diameters. The angle of the notches (10) in the device are approximately 15° to allow better overriding at the sapheno-femoral junction which allowing for better competence of the valve.

Claims

1. A variable diameter venous valve cuff for restoring competence to an incompetent venous valve comprising an elongated strap having a tapered end and a buckle at the other end, the buckle defining a buckle opening through which the tapered end can pass;

and wherein the strap further comprises one or more centrally located holes which aid in calibration of the diameter of the cuff.

2. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein the strap and the buckle formed from a textile and polymer composite.

3. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein the holes are three in number.

4. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein there are at least three holes which designate cuff diameters of 4.5, 5.5 and 6.5 mm.

5. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein the buckle has sides slightly longer than the width of the strap so that the cuff may assume a conical shape when in use.

6. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein the buckle and cuff are formed from the same composite material.

7. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 6, wherein the material is a DACRONTM and silicone composite with some shape memory and very little elasticity.

8. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, wherein the buckle has a width which allows flattening of the top of the superficial aspect.

9. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 1, further comprising a notch located near the buckle.

10. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 9, wherein the notch has sides which are curved.

11. A variable diameter venous valve cuff according to claim 9, wherein the curved sides form an arc defining about 15°

of arc.