Medical Device for Constricting Tissue or a Bodily Orifice, for example a mitral valve

• US 20090287304A1
• Filed: 05/13/2008
• Published: 11/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kardium Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kardium Inc.
• Inventors: Dahlgren, Jon, Goertzen, Doug, Gelbart, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/120,195
• Publication Number:
  US 20090287304A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.370
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0485 Devices or means, e.g. loops, for capturing the suture thread and threading it through an opening of a suturing instrument or needle eyelet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00331 with preformed bends
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0437 the barbs being resilient or spring-like
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22038 with a guide wire
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses

Abstract

A medical apparatus positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) may constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The medical apparatus may include tissue anchors that are implanted in the annulus of the orifice. The tissue anchors may be guided into position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guiding frame. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished by cinching a flexible cable attached to implanted tissue anchors. The medical device may be used to approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve in order to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and eliminate mitral regurgitation.

Claims

1. A method for constricting a bodily orifice or cavity, the method comprising:

Delivering a plurality of anchors to the bodily orifice or cavity intravascularly;

Implanting the plurality of anchors;

Connecting the plurality of anchors by at least one joining member;

Contracting at least one joining member.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the bodily orifice is a mitral valve

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one joining member is a flexible cable

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchors comprise a helical portion

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anchors comprise multiple barbs

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of anchors are guided to implant sites by means of at least one guide rail

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the plurality of anchors are released proximate to a change in curvature of the guide rail.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein at least two guide rails are distally connected.

9. A medical system for constricting an orifice comprising a device positionable in at least a portion of a bodily organ;

a plurality of guide rails;

a plurality of anchors releasably guided by said guide rails;

at least one structure used to locate said guide rails;

means of connecting said anchors;

means of shortening or bending said connecting means.

10. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the medical system is deployed intravascularly

11. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the portion of a bodily organ is a left atrium of a heart

12. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of anchors are released proximate to a change in curvature of said guide rails

13. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of anchors are held captive within a cap prior to deployment

14. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the plurality of anchors are not released from said guide rails until implanted

15. The medical device of claim 9 wherein the connecting means is shortened by application of a external magnetic field

16. The medical device of claim 9 wherein said structure is foldable into a catheter

17. A medical system for attaching a flexible member to tissue comprising

A flexible member attached to tissue by a plurality of anchors;

Said plurality of anchors guided by a plurality of rails;

Said anchors releasable proximate to a change in curvature of said rails;

A foldable frame configured to position said rails.

18. The medical system of claim 17 wherein said medical system is deliverable through a catheter

19. The medical system of claim 17 wherein said flexible member is adjusted after deployment

20. The medical system of claim 17 wherein said frame comprises features for conforming to anatomical structures