Device and a method for treatment of atrioventricular regurgitation

• US 20060064118A1
• Filed: 11/07/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Kimblad, Per Ola
• Granted Patent: US 8,062,313 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/151
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve

Abstract

A device and method for treatment of atrioventricular regurgitation comprises a suturing device. The suturing device is configured to be introducible, via blood vessels leading to the heart, to two leaflets of the atrioventricular valve between the atrium and a corresponding ventricle of the heart. The suturing device is configured for binding together the two leaflets along the free edges of the leaflets. A method of using the device includes inserting the suturing device into a catheter, introducing the catheter to the heart and positioning a distal end of the catheter close to two leaflets of an atrioventricular valve, capturing the free edges of the two leaflets with the suturing device in its open state, binding together the two leaflets by transition of the suturing device into its closed state, and retracting the catheter from the heart. As a result, the closing of the valve is improved.

Claims

1. An apparatus for securing heart tissue, comprising:

a clip having a closed state, an open state, and an intermediate state, wherein the clip in the open state comprises a clip opening configured to receive heart tissue;

a delivery catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the delivery catheter distal portion configured to releasably hold the clip, to selectively bias the clip toward the open state with the clip opening configured to receive heart tissue accessible from outside the catheter, and to selectively bias the clip toward the intermediate state; and

wherein the clip is releasably secured to the delivery catheter distal portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip is formed from a memory material, and wherein the clip is biased toward the closed state by the memory material.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the clip comprises two arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, the two arms pivotally connected to each other at the respective first ends thereof and the two arms defining the clip opening between the respective second ends thereof, wherein the respective second ends of the arms are at a maximum distance from each other when the clip is in the open state.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the two arms form a general V shape with the clip in the open state.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein clip is releasably secured to the delivery catheter distal portion with the respective first ends of the two arms positioned distal to the respective second ends of the two arms.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the clip is releasably secured to the delivery catheter distal portion with the respective first ends of the two arms positioned proximal to the respective second ends of the two arms.

7. An apparatus for percutaneous treatment of heart tissue, comprising:

a clip having a closed state, an open state, and an intermediate state, the clip sized in the intermediate state for percutaneous passage through structures within a patient'"'"'s heart, the clip formed from a memory material that biases the clip toward the closed state;

a delivery catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the delivery catheter distal portion configured for percutaneous introduction to a patient'"'"'s heart, the delivery catheter configured to releasably hold the clip, to selectively and mechanically bias the clip toward the open state, and to selectively and mechanically bias the clip toward the intermediate state; and

wherein the clip is releasably secured to the delivery catheter distal portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clip in the open state comprises a clip opening configured to receive heart tissue.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the delivery catheter mechanically biases the clip toward the open state with the clip opening facing distally.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the delivery catheter mechanically biases the clip toward the open state with the clip opening facing proximally.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the delivery catheter mechanically biases the clip toward the intermediate state with the clip opening facing distally.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the delivery catheter mechanically biases the clip toward the intermediate state with the clip opening facing proximally.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the clip comprises two arms, each arm having a first end and a second end, the two arms pivotally connected to each other at the respective first ends thereof.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the clip in the open shape comprises the respective second ends of the two arms positioned at a first distance from each other, and the clip in the closed state comprises the respective second ends of the two arms positioned at a second distance from each other, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the clip in the intermediate state comprises the respective second ends of the two arms positioned at an intermediate distance from each other, wherein the intermediate distance is greater than the second distance and less than the first distance.

16. A system for repairing tissue, comprising:

a clip comprising two clip arms, each clip arm having a first end and a second end, the two clip arms pivotally connected to each other at the respective first ends thereof, the clip having a closed state wherein the respective second ends of the clip arms are at a minimum distance from each other, an open state wherein the respective second ends of the clip arms are at a maximum distance from each other so as to create a clip opening between the respective second ends of the clip arms, and an intermediate state wherein the clip is configured for maneuvering through structures within a patient'"'"'s body; and

a delivery catheter having a distal portion and a proximal portion, the delivery catheter distal portion configured to releasably hold the clip, to selectively hold the clip in the open state with the clip opening accessible from the outside of the catheter, and to selectively hold the clip in the intermediate state.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the two clip arms form a general V shape with the clip in the open state.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the clip is formed from a memory material that biases the clip toward the closed state, and wherein the delivery catheter is configured to selectively and mechanically bias the clip toward the open state, and to selectively and mechanically bias the clip toward the intermediate state.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the clip is releasably secured to the distal portion of the delivery catheter, and the clip is selectively mechanically biased toward the intermediate state with the delivery catheter in a first configuration, and the clip is mechanically biased toward the open state with the delivery catheter in a second configuration.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the delivery catheter further comprises a needle configured to puncture a hole in body tissue through which the delivery catheter can be advanced.