Mitral and tricuspid valve repair
First Claim
1. A kit comprising a cardiac catheter and a leaflet fastener applicator, said cardiac catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into a human heart in the vicinity of the mitral or tricuspid valve, said leaflet fastener applicator having a size allowing insertion through said cardiac catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets.
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Abstract
A novel approach to mitral or tricuspid valve repair involves the performance of an edge-to-edge fastening/securing of opposing heart valve leaflets through a catheter entering the heart. Thus, a device is introduced including a leaflet fastener applicator through a cardiac catheter or other suitable catheter. The leaflet fastener applicator and cardiac catheter can be formed into a kit. A gripper can be used to hold the heart valve leaflets while they are fastened.
325 Citations
35 Claims
- 1. A kit comprising a cardiac catheter and a leaflet fastener applicator, said cardiac catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into a human heart in the vicinity of the mitral or tricuspid valve, said leaflet fastener applicator having a size allowing insertion through said cardiac catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets.
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11. A method of repairing a valve of a beating heart, said method comprising:
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a) inserting the distal end of a catheter into the heart to provide access to said valve; and
b) fastening together portions of leaflets of said valve using a leaflet fastener applicator inserted through said catheter. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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- 21. A device comprising a catheter and a leaflet fastener applicator, said catheter having a proximal end, a distal end and suitable dimensions for insertion into a heart, said leaflet fastener applicator passing through said catheter such that an actuating element projects from said proximal end of said catheter while a fastening element projects from said distal end of said catheter.
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25. A heart valve leaflet fastener comprising two pairs of arms, each pair having a suitable size for fastening heart valve leaflets and said two pairs of arms capable of fastening two adjacent leaflets.
- 26. The heart valve leaflet fastener of claim 26 wherein said arms flex relative to a central core, and wherein said fastener has a locked position where each said pair of arms meet under tension.
- 28. A heart valve gripper/fastener applicator comprising a gripper and a fastener applicator wherein said gripper and said fastener applicator extend from a single shaft.
- 31. A heart valve leaflet fastener applicator comprising two opposing jaws, one of said jaws having a site for holding a tack and the second of said jaws having a site for holding a cap.
- 33. A gripper comprising a plunger that slides over an inner shaft and arms having suitable dimensions for gripping heart valve leaflets, said plunger slides such that interaction of heart valve leaflets with said plunger directs said leaflets toward said arms.
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35. A fastener applicator comprising a first shaft, a first portion of a button clip having a sharp projection for piercing a heart valve leaflet, a second shaft that slides over said first shaft, and a second portion of said button clip having an opening to engage the projection of said first portion of said button clip, said second portion of said button clip sliding over said first shaft and not over said second shaft such that second shaft can direct said second portion toward said first portion.
Specification