Restraining clip for mitral valve repair
First Claim
1. A clip for repair of a heart valve having leaflets, said clip substantially restraining the motion of the leaflets, said clip comprising:
- a plurality of resilient, flexible legs arranged substantially lengthwise adjacent to one another, each of said legs having a first end adapted to attach to one of the leaflets and a second end opposite said first end; and
a common attachment located at said second ends of said legs, said second ends being attached to said common attachment, said first ends of said legs being flexibly movable away from one another and capable of receiving the leaflets therebetween, said legs further being resiliently biased toward each other for engagement of each of said first ends with one of the leaflets for attaching said clip thereto.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A clip for repair of a heart valve is disclosed. The clip has a plurality of legs joined at one end to a common attachment, the opposite ends of the legs being free to move. The legs are resilient and flexible, allowing the free ends to be separated to receive the leaflets of a valve between them. The legs are resiliently biased so as to close upon the leaflets. Hooks positioned at the free ends engage the leaflets and attach the legs to them. Thus positioned, the clip restrains the motion of the leaflets relatively to one another to prevent valve prolapse. Legs formed of loops or having spiral shapes are feasible. The common attachment may comprise a threaded ferrule, a bent or looped wire segment as well as a cylindrical shell or a ring.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A clip for repair of a heart valve having leaflets, said clip substantially restraining the motion of the leaflets, said clip comprising:
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a plurality of resilient, flexible legs arranged substantially lengthwise adjacent to one another, each of said legs having a first end adapted to attach to one of the leaflets and a second end opposite said first end; and
a common attachment located at said second ends of said legs, said second ends being attached to said common attachment, said first ends of said legs being flexibly movable away from one another and capable of receiving the leaflets therebetween, said legs further being resiliently biased toward each other for engagement of each of said first ends with one of the leaflets for attaching said clip thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A clip for repair of a heart valve having leaflets, said clip substantially restraining the motion of the leaflets, said clip comprising:
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a ring;
a pair of resilient, flexible legs arranged substantially lengthwise facing one another, each of said legs having a first end adapted to attach to one of the leaflets and a second end attached to said ring, said legs being attached to said ring substantially diametrically opposite to one another;
a pair of actuating projections attached to said ring substantially diametrically opposite to one another, each of said actuating projections being substantially aligned with one of said legs and extending in a direction opposite thereto, said first ends of said legs being flexibly movable toward and away from one another for receiving the leaflets therebetween when said actuating projections are moved respectively away and toward each other. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A method of repairing a heart valve having leaflets by restraining the motion of the leaflets substantially at a point, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a clip comprising a plurality of resilient, flexible legs arranged substantially lengthwise adjacent to one another and resiliently biased toward one another, each of said legs having a first end adapted to attach to one of the leaflets and a second end opposite said first end, said clip further comprising a common attachment located at said second ends of said legs, said second ends being attached to said common attachment;
flexibly moving said first ends of said legs away from one another;
positioning said legs with the leaflets therebetween and said common attachment adjacent to said leaflets; and
allowing each of said first ends to be biased into engagement with one of the leaflets and thereby attaching said clip to the valve, said common attachment being positioned substantially adjacent to the leaflets and defining the point at which the motion of the leaflets is substantially restrained.
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Specification