Heart valve implant

• US 20070093890A1
• Filed: 10/26/2005
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cardiosolutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cardiosolutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Eliasen, Kenneth, Ebner, Adrian, Tallarida, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 8,092,525 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/246 Devices for obstructing a leak through a native valve in a closed condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas

Abstract

A method according to one embodiment may include providing a heart valve implant including an anchor capable of engaging coronary tissue, a shaft coupled to said anchor, and a valve body coupled to said shaft. The method may further include at least partially collapsing the heart valve implant and percutaneously inserting the heart valve implant into a heart. The percutaneously inserted implant may be secured within the heart and may then be expanded. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

Claims

1. A heart valve implant comprising:

an anchor; and

a valve body coupled to said anchor, said valve body configured to interact with at least a portion of at least one cusp of a heart valve to at least partially restrict a flow of blood through said heart valve in a closed position.

2. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft coupled between said valve body and said anchor.

3. A heart valve implant according to claim 2, wherein said valve body is slidably coupled to said shaft to permit translation of said valve body along said shaft.

4. A heart valve implant according to claim 3, wherein said shaft comprises a stop limiting translation of said valve body along said shaft in at least one direction

5. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said anchor is directly coupled to said valve body.

6. A heart valve implant according to claim 2, wherein said anchor is integral with said shaft.

7. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises a tapered portion and an enlarged portion

8. A heart valve implant according to claim 7, wherein said enlarged portion is capable of at least partially sealingly engaging said heart valve in said closed position.

9. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said valve body comprises an expandable portion.

10. A heart valve implant according to claim 9, wherein said expandable portion comprises an inflatable bladder.

11. A heart valve implant according to claim 9, wherein said expandable portion comprises a shape memory material capable of recoverable deformation.

12. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said anchor comprises a helical feature for threadably engaging native coronary tissue.

13. A heart valve implant according to claim 1, wherein said anchor comprises at least one barb for engaging native coronary tissue.

14. A method of delivering a heart valve implant comprising:

providing a heart valve implant comprising an anchor coupled to a valve body;

at least partially collapsing said heart valve implant;

percutaneously inserting said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant into a heart;

securing said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant within said heart; and

expanding said collapsed valve.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein percutaneously inserting said collapsed valve comprises a catheterization intervention.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein percutaneously inserting said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant comprises inserting said valve into a lumen of a catheter and delivering said valve to said left ventricle via said catheter.

17. A method according to claim 14, wherein securing said at least partially collapsed heart valve implant comprises coupling said anchor to native coronary tissue.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said anchor comprises a helical anchor, and coupling said anchor to native coronary tissue comprises screwing said helical anchor into said native coronary tissue.

19. A method according to claim 14, wherein said valve comprises an inflatable structure, and expanding said valve comprises at least partially filling said inflatable structure with a fluid.

20. A method according to claim 14, wherein said valve body comprises a shape memory material, and expanding said valve comprises raising a temperature of said valve body to a temperature equal to, or greater than, an activation temperature of said shape memory material.

21. A method of improving the valving capacity of a heart valve comprising:

engaging an anchor into coronary tissue;

providing a shaft coupled to said anchor;

providing a valve body slidably coupled to said shaft, said valve body slidably movable between a first position engaging at least a portion of said heart valve and a second position at least partially spaced from said heart valve.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein said valve body comprises an expandable portion.

23. The method according to claim 21, wherein said valve body comprises an enlarged portion for engaging said heart valve in said first position.