Treating Valve Failure

• US 20080071364A1
• Filed: 03/09/2005
• Published: 03/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Clif Alferness, David Kaye, John Power
• Original Assignee: Baker Medical Research Institute
• Inventors: Bilney, Adam Lucas, Alferness, Clifton A., Power, John Melmouth, Kaye, David Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,942,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus

Abstract

A device (1) for treating valve failure in a patient is provided. The device has one or more engaging zones (3) for engaging the device with the annulus of the valve being treated. The device also has pre-disposition means for changing the geometry of the device to a predetermined configuration which is suitable for constricting the valve annulus. The device is compressible for percutaneous delivery to the valve. When in the predetermined configuration, the engaged device constricts the valve annulus facilitating substantial closure of leaflets of the valve.

Claims

1. A device for treating valve failure in a patient, the device having:

(a) one or more engaging zones for engaging the device with a valve annulus of the valve being treated; and

(b) pre-disposition means for changing the geometry of the device to a predetermined configuration suitable for constricting the valve annulus;

wherein the device is compressible for percutaneous delivery to the valve, and wherein the engaged device, when in the predetermined configuration, constricts the valve annulus facilitating substantial closure of leaflets of the valve.

2. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the device is expandable to substantially the same size as the untreated valve annulus to facilitate engagement of the one or more engaging zones with the valve annulus, and capable of returning to the predetermined configuration.

3. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the device is made from a biocompatible material and the pre-disposition means includes a shape memory inherent in the material, said shape memory corresponding to the predetermined configuration.

4. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 3 wherein the biocompatible material includes a metal alloy.

5. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 4 wherein the alloy includes nickel and titanium.

6. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the engaging zones includes a tooth for engaging the valve annulus.

7. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein one or more of the engaging zones includes a barb.

8. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the device is substantially annular and torsionally compressible by coiling the device upon itself.

9. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the device is substantially annular and radially compressible.

10. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the device is a nitinol coil and the engaging zones include laser-cut teeth formed in a surface of the device, said surface being configured to engage with the valve annulus.

11. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the valve being treated is a valve of the heart.

12. A device for treating valve failure according to claim 1 wherein the heart valve is the tricuspid valve.

13. A method of treating valve failure including the steps of:

(a) transporting a compressed valve repair device to a region of valve failure, said region including a valve annulus; and

(b) deploying the repair device by;

(i) releasing the compressed repair device;

(ii) engaging the released repair device with the valve annulus; and

(iii) contracting the engaged repair device to a predetermined configuration;

wherein contraction of the engaged repair device to the predetermined configuration constricts the valve annulus thereby facilitating substantial closure of leaflets of the valve.

14. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 13 wherein the repair device is transported percutaneously.

15. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 13 further including the step of, prior to engaging the repair device with the valve annulus, expanding the released repair device to substantially the same size as the untreated valve annulus to facilitate engagement of the repair device with the valve annulus.

16. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 15 wherein the step of expanding the released repair device is facilitated by disengageable expanding means associated with a deployment apparatus.

17. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 13 wherein the repair device is annular with one or more engaging zones, engageable with the valve annulus by rotating the device in a first rotational direction.

18. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 17 wherein the repair device is deployed from a repair device deployment apparatus by rotating the device in a second rotational direction.

19. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 13 wherein the valve being treated is a valve of the heart.

20. A method of treating valve failure according to claim 19 wherein the heart valve is the tricuspid valve.

21. Apparatus for deploying a valve repair device in a patient, the apparatus including:

(a) positioning means to position the repair device relative to the valve;

(b) coupling means for releasably coupling the repair device to the positioning means; and

(c) releasably engageable expansion means configured to expand the repair device;

wherein the positioning means and the coupling means are configured to deliver the repair device to a region of the valve through a percutaneous lumen and the releasably engageable expansion means facilitates engagement of one or more engaging zones of the repair device with the valve annulus.

22. Apparatus for deploying a valve repair device according to claim 21 wherein the releasably engageable expansion means includes one or more struts configured to expand the periphery of the repair device so as to substantially match the internal diameter of the untreated valve annulus.

23. Apparatus for deploying a valve repair device according to claim 21 in combination with a valve repair device that is coupled by said coupling means to said positioning means where the device comprises (a) one or more engaging zones for engaging the device with a valve annulus of the valve being treated;

and (b) pre-disposition means for changing the geometry of the device to a predetermined configuration suitable for constricting the valve annulus.

24-25. -25. (canceled)