Method and repair device for treating mitral valve insufficiency

• US 20040210240A1
• Filed: 04/21/2003
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Medtronic Ave
• Original Assignee: Medtronic Ave
• Inventors: Saint, Sean
• Application Number:
  US10/418,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20040210240A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/139
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/12013 for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2451 Inserts in the coronary sinus for correcting the valve shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2025/009 the needle having a bent tip, i.e. the needle distal tip is angled in relation to the longitudinal axis of the catheter

Abstract

A system, device and method for repairing mitral valve regurgitation is provided. A device is placed external to the mitral valve in the atrioventricular sulcus or groove of the heart and is cinched in to reduce the mitral valve annulus or the radius of curvature of the heart around the atrioventricular groove thus reducing the circumference of the mitral annulus.

Claims

1. A method of reducing the circumference of a mitral valve annulus comprising the steps of:

providing a mitral valve reducing device comprising an elongate member;

positioning the elongate member in a first position at a location adjacent the atrioventricular groove and exterior of the vasculature of the heart, wherein in the first position, the elongate member has a first radius of curvature; and

releasing the elongate member in the atrioventricular groove in a second position wherein in the second position the elongate member has a second radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature so as to reduce the circumference of the mitral valve annulus.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the elongate member in a first position comprises delivering the elongate member along a coronary sinus to the location adjacent the atrioventricular groove.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the elongate member in a first position comprises delivering the elongate member through a coronary sinus vessel, forming an opening in the coronary sinus and delivering the elongate member out of the coronary sinus through the opening.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of positioning the elongate member in a first position comprises accessing and navigating the pericardial space.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of releasing the elongate member in the atrioventricular groove in a second position comprises bending the elongate member from the first position into the second position.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the step of providing an elongate member comprises providing an elongate member comprising a cinching mechanism;

and wherein the step of bending the elongate member comprises actuating the cinching mechanism.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of providing an elongate member comprises providing an elongate member having a preferential bending mechanism at a location along a length of the elongate member;

and

wherein the step of bending the elongate member comprises bending the elongate member at the location.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of increasing tissue adherence to the elongate member.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of increasing tissue adherence occurs prior to releasing the elongate member in the atrioventricular groove in the second position.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of increasing the tissue adherence comprises ablating adjacent tissue.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of increasing the tissue adherence comprises:

providing a coating on the elongate member to cause a tissue response.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing a coating comprises providing a coating comprising a tissue growth promoter to cause tissue growth around the elongate member.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the step of providing a coating comprises providing a coating comprising an inflammatory response agent.

14. A system for reducing the mitral annulus of a heart comprising:

a mitral valve reducing device comprising;

an elongate member having a first position wherein in the first position, the elongate member has a first radius of curvature, and a second position wherein in the second position the elongate member has a second radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature; and

a delivery system comprising;

a catheter configured to access a pericardial space of a heart, adjacent an atrioventricular groove and outside of vasculature of the heart; and

a mitral valve reducing device delivery member configured to place the reducing mechanism in the atrioventricular groove.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the catheter comprises a puncture needle configured to puncture a vessel in which the catheter resides to access the pericardial space.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the mitral valve reduction device comprises a cinching mechanism;

and wherein the step of bending the elongate member comprises actuating the cinching mechanism.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the mitral valve reduction device comprises a preferential bending mechanism at a location along a length of the elongate member.

18. A mitral valve reduction device comprising:

an elongate member having a first position wherein in the first position, the elongate member has a first radius of curvature, a second position wherein in the second position the elongate member has a second radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature, and a bending mechanism configured to move the elongate member from the first position to the second position; and

a coating on the elongate member, wherein the coating comprises a tissue response promoter for promoting a tissue response adjacent the elongate member.

19. The mitral valve reduction device of claim 18 wherein the coating comprises a tissue growth promoter.

20. The mitral valve reduction device of claim 18 wherein the coating comprises a tissue inflammation promoter.

21. A mitral valve reduction device comprising:

an elongate member having a first position wherein in the first position, the elongate member has a first radius of curvature and a second position wherein in the second position the elongate member has a second radius of curvature less than the first radius of curvature;

an end comprising a tissue engaging element configured to engage the heart within the atrioventricular groove.

22. The mitral valve reduction device of claim 21 wherein the tissue engaging element comprises at least one finger member extending from the end of the elongate member.

23. The mitral valve reduction device of claim 21 further comprising:

a bending mechanism configured to move the elongate member from the first position to the second position.