Methods and devices for heart tissue repair

• US 20080177380A1
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Calhoun, Tenny C., Starksen, Niel F., Fabro, Mariel, Im, Karl S.
• Application Number:
  US11/656,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20080177380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8486 provided on at least one of the ends
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable

Abstract

Methods for securing implants to heart tissue are described, where the implants include one or more anchor portions extending from a support. Some variations of the methods may comprise securing an implant to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart, where the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support. The implant may further comprise a second anchor portion extending from a second portion of the support. Certain variations of the methods may include advancing a catheter to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart, and deploying an implant from the catheter to the first region of tissue, where the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support. Implants also are described.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

securing an implant to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart, wherein the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the implant to the first region of the tissue comprises securing the first anchor portion into the first region of the tissue.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein securing the implant to the first region of the tissue comprises advancing the implant to the first region of the tissue, and deploying the implant to the first region of the tissue, wherein the first anchor portion self-secures into the first region of the tissue upon deployment of the implant to the first region of the tissue.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant further comprises a second anchor portion extending from a second portion of the support.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising securing the implant to a second region of heart tissue.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein securing the implant to the second region of heart tissue comprises securing the second anchor portion into the second region of heart tissue.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein securing the implant to the second region of heart tissue comprises deploying the implant to the second region of heart tissue, wherein the second anchor portion self-secures into the second region of heart tissue upon deployment of the implant to the second region of heart tissue.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising tensioning the support prior to securing the implant to the second region of heart tissue.

9. The method of claim 5, wherein the implant further comprises a tether.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the heart tissue comprises mitral valve tissue comprising an annulus.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising pulling the tether proximally to reduce the circumference of the mitral valve annulus.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the tether comprises a suture.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the suture comprises polyester impregnated with polytetrafluoroethylene.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising pulling the tether proximally to create at least one heart tissue fold between the first and second anchor portions.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the tether is attached to the support.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the tether has a first end portion that is attached to the support and a second end portion that is not attached to the support.

17. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second anchor portions is integrally formed with the support.

18. The method of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first and second anchor portions is attached to the support.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least one of the first and second anchor portions is partially embedded in the support.

20. The method of claim 4, wherein the first anchor portion has a different shape from the second anchor portion.

21. The method of claim 4, wherein the first anchor portion has a different size from the second anchor portion.

22. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second portions of the support are connected by a spring.

23. The method of claim 4, wherein the first and second portions of the support are connected by a third portion of the support.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the third portion of the support is integrally formed with at least one of the first and second portions of the support.

25. The method of claim 1, wherein the first anchor portion is selected from the group consisting of T-tags, rivets, staples, hooks, and clips.

26. The method of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a polymer.

27. The method of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a metal.

28. The method of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a metal alloy.

29. The method of claim 1, wherein the support comprises a first material, and the first anchor portion comprises a second material that is different from the first material.

30. The method of claim 1, wherein the support and the first anchor portion are formed of the same material.

31. The method of claim 1, wherein the support is in the form of a generally cylindrical member.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the generally cylindrical member includes at least one lumen.

33. The method of claim 1, wherein the support has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the first anchor portion extends from the first surface, and the implant further comprises a second anchor portion extending from the second surface.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a plurality of hooks.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein the implant comprises a plurality of anchor portions that are configured to secure to heart tissue.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the plurality of anchor portions are configured to secure to heart tissue such that disengagement of at least one of the anchor portions from the heart tissue does not result in disengagement of the implant from the heart tissue.

38. A method comprising:

advancing a catheter to a first region of a tissue in the vicinity of a subannular groove of a heart; and

deploying an implant from the catheter to the first region of tissue, wherein the implant comprises a support and a first anchor portion extending from a first portion of the support.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the implant further comprises a second anchor portion extending from a second portion of the support.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the catheter comprises a lumen, and prior to deployment of the implant to the first region of tissue, the implant is at least partially disposed within the lumen of the catheter.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein prior to deployment of the implant to the first region of tissue, the implant is in a rolled or folded configuration within the lumen of the catheter.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the implant is configured to unroll or unfold when the implant is deployed from the catheter.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein deploying the implant from the catheter comprises using a pusher to advance the implant through the catheter.

44. The method of claim 38, wherein the catheter comprises an expandable member.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein prior to deployment of the implant to the first region of tissue, the implant is supported by the expandable member.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein deploying the implant from the catheter to the first region of tissue comprises expanding the expandable member.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein prior to deployment of the implant to the first region of tissue, the implant is disposed between a sheath and the expandable member.

48. The method of claim 47, wherein deploying the implant from the catheter to the first region of tissue comprises withdrawing the sheath.

49. The method of claim 44, wherein the expandable member comprises a balloon.

50. The method of claim 44, wherein the expandable member comprises a shape-memory material.

51. An implant comprising:

a support; and

a plurality of anchor portions extending from the support,

wherein the plurality of anchor portions comprise at least three anchor portions having a non-linear relationship with respect to each other, and the implant is configured to secure to a first region of mitral valve tissue.

52. The implant of claim 51, further comprising a tether.

53. The implant of claim 52, wherein the mitral valve tissue comprises an annulus, and the tether is configured to be pulled proximally to reduce the circumference of the mitral valve annulus.

54. The implant of claim 51, wherein at least one of the anchor portions is integrally formed with the support.

55. The implant of claim 51, wherein at least one of the anchor portions is selected from the group consisting of T-tags, rivets, staples, hooks, and clips.

56. The implant of claim 51, wherein the support comprises a polymer.

57. The implant of claim 51, wherein the support has a first surface and a second surface that is different from the first surface.

58. The implant of claim 57, wherein the second surface is opposite the first surface.

59. The implant of claim 57, wherein the implant comprises a first anchor portion extending from the first surface, and a second anchor portion extending from the second surface.

60. The implant of claim 51, wherein the plurality of anchor portions comprise a plurality of hooks.

61. The implant of claim 51, wherein the plurality of anchor portions are configured to secure into heart tissue such that disengagement of at least one of the anchor portions from the heart tissue does not result in disengagement of the implant from the heart tissue.

62. An implant comprising:

a support; and

a plurality of anchor portions extending from the support,

wherein the plurality of anchor portions form a non-linear array on the support, and the implant is configured to secure to a first region of mitral valve tissue.

63. The implant of claim 62, wherein the plurality of anchor portions comprise a plurality of hooks.

64. The implant of claim 62, wherein the plurality of anchor portions are configured to secure into heart tissue such that disengagement of at least one of the anchor portions from the heart tissue does not result in disengagement of the implant from the heart tissue.