Tissue fastening systems and methods utilizing magnetic guidance

• US 20050137700A1
• Filed: 09/24/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitralign, Inc. (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Sansoucy, Michael R., Bruszewski, Walter, Spence, Paul A., Maguire, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.360
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0482 Needle or suture guides guides for drills, pins or wire A61B17/17; for puncturing needles A61B17/3403
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00862 elastic or resilient for sutures A61B2017/0618
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00876 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• 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: Y10S 623/904 : Heart

Abstract

Catheter based systems and methods for securing tissue including the annulus of a mitral valve. The systems and methods employ catheter based techniques and devices to plicate tissue and perform an annuloplasty.

Claims

1. A catheter system for modifying an annulus of a heart valve to reduce regurgitation of blood flow through the valve, comprising:

a catheter having at least one lumen,

first and second fasteners adapted to be secured to the annulus,

at least one flexible tensile member coupling said first and second fasteners together, and

a crimping device deployable through said catheter and including a crimp and a compression applying mechanism configured to compress said crimp onto said at least one flexible tensile member after said fasteners are pulled toward one another with said at least one flexible tensile member to reduce the circumferential length of the annulus.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cutting mechanism associated with said crimping device and configured to cut said at least one flexible tensile member after compression of said crimp.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third fastener adapted to be secured to the heart tissue, and wherein separate flexible tensile members are connected with each of said fasteners and threaded through said crimp.