Method and apparatus for attaching a valve prosthesis

• US 20060135967A1
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fidel Realyvasquez
• Original Assignee: Fidel Realyvasquez
• Inventors: Realyvasquez, Fidel
• Application Number:
  US11/286,318
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135967A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/142
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/072 for applying a row of staples in a single action , e.g. the staples being applied simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/115 Staplers for performing anastomosis in a single operation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00778 Operations on blood vessels A61B2017/22097, A61B2017/320741 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation

Abstract

A valve delivery device and method of use is provided. In one embodiment, the device to deliver a valve prosthesis to a target tissue may include at least one anchor and at least one guide wire coupled to the anchor. The device has a fastener housing. The device may also include a first set of fasteners in said fastener housing, wherein the fasteners are movable from a first position to a second, tissue engagement position. The device may also include a second set of fasteners housed in the anchor to attach the anchor to the tissue, wherein the fasteners are movable from a first position to a second, tissue engagement position. The guide wire may be slidably received in the fastener housing and has a length sufficient to extend from the fastener housing to the target tissue site, wherein the guide wire is used to direct the fastener housing into place.

Claims

1. A device to deliver a valve prosthesis to a target tissue, the device comprising:

at least one anchor;

at least one guide wire coupled to the anchor;

a fastener housing;

a first set of fasteners in said fastener housing, wherein said fasteners are movable from a first position to a second, tissue engagement position; and

a second set of fasteners housed in said anchor to attach the anchor to the tissue, wherein the fasteners are movable from a first position to a second, tissue engagement position;

wherein said guide wire is slidably received in the fastener housing and has a length sufficient to extend from the fastener housing to the target tissue site, said guide wire used to direct the fastener housing into place.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the system further comprises a plunger member, wherein the plunger member is movable along a longitudinal axis of the device and has a plurality of push rods sized sufficient to move said fasteners from a first position to a second, tissue engagement position.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein anchor includes a sharpened barb portion for attaching the anchor to a sewing ring on the valve prosthesis.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the fasteners have a curved distal portion.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the fasteners have a sharpened distal tip.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the fasteners have a blunt distal tip.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the fasteners are made of a shape memory material.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the valve prosthesis is a mechanical valve

9. A method for attaching a valve prosthesis to a target tissue, the method comprising:

attaching a plurality of anchors each having a guide wire to the target tissue;

slidably advancing a delivery device having a fastener housing along the guide wires, wherein said fastener housing has grooves or slots for receiving the guide wires;

positioning the delivery device so that fasteners inside the fastener housing will engage the target tissue when the fasteners are deployed; and

clipping the guide wires so that the anchors can remain embedded in tissue when the guide wires are removed.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising sliding the fastener so that a sewing ring on the valve prosthesis is advanced over barbed portion of the anchor.

11. The method of claim 9 further comprising deploying a second set of fasteners, each of the fasteners housed in the anchors.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the fasteners are delivered along a curved path near the distal en of the barbed portion of the anchor.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the fasteners assume a first linear configuration and a second curled configuration once delivered at the target tissue.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising deploying a second set of fasteners, each of the fasteners housed in the anchors;

wherein a proximal end of each of the fasteners extends outward from an opening on the anchor to secure the fastener to the anchor.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising removing said delivery device and leaving the plurality of fasteners with the valve prosthetic attached to the target tissue.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising extending a hollow sharpened shaft from the fastener housing to pierce through a sewing ring on the valve prosthesis;

advancing a push rod through the sharpened shaft to extend a fastener outward from the hollow shaft.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein the target tissue is an aortic valve annulus with valve leaflets removed.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the valve prosthesis is a mechanical valve.

19. A kit comprising:

a valve prosthesis delivery device;

a valve prosthesis;

instructions for use setting forth the method of claim 9;

and

a container sized to house the valve prosthesis delivery device, the valve prosthesis, and the instructions for use.