Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair

• US 20050216078A1
• Filed: 05/24/2005
• Published: 09/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Starksen, Niel F., To, John, Morales, Rodolfo A.
• Application Number:
  US11/137,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20050216078A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.110
• 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 17/0401 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.

Claims

1-117. -117. (canceled)

118. A method for deploying an anchor in heart valve tissue in the vicinity of a heart valve annulus comprising:

placing a first magnet within a coronary sinus of a heart in the vicinity of the heart valve annulus;

placing a second magnet of opposite polarity below the annulus, in the vicinity of the heart valve annulus, whereby the second magnet is drawn to the first magnet; and

deploying an anchor in proximity to the second magnet into the heart valve tissue.

119. The method of claim 118 wherein the heart valve is either a mitral valve or a tricuspid valve.

120. The method of claim 119 wherein the heart valve is a mitral valve.

121. The method of claim 118 wherein the step of placing a first magnet within a coronary sinus of a heart comprises advancing a catheter having a magnet within the coronary sinus.

122. The method of claim 118 wherein the step of placing a second magnet of opposite polarity below the annulus comprises advancing a catheter having a magnet below the annulus.

123. The method of claim 118 wherein the step of deploying an anchor comprises deploying an anchor into the heart valve annulus.

124. The method of claim 118 wherein the step of deploying an anchor comprises deploying at least two anchors.

125. The method of claim 118 wherein the anchor is coupled to a tether or filament so that when tension is applied to the tether or filament, the heart valve annulus is constricted.

126. A method of positioning a tool within a heart comprising:

placing a first magnet within a coronary sinus of the heart; and

placing a tool having a second magnet of opposite polarity within the heart, whereby the second magnet is drawn to the first magnet.

127. The method of claim 126 wherein the tool having the second magnet is placed in the vicinity of the heart valve annulus.

128. The method of claim 126 further comprising deploying an anchor in proximity to the second magnet into heart valve tissue.

129. The method of claim 126 wherein the tool having a second magnet of opposite polarity is placed within a ventricle of the heart.

130. The method of claim 129 wherein the ventricle is the left ventricle.

131. The method of claim 126 wherein the tool having a second magnet of opposite polarity is placed within an atrium of the heart.

132. The method of claim 126 wherein the tool is a catheter.