Intracardiac device for restoring the functional elasticity of the cardiac structures, holding tool for the intracardiac device, and method for implantation of the intracardiac device in the heart

• US 20100030014A1
• Filed: 07/30/2008
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cube Corporation (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Cube Corporation (Babcock International Group PLC)
• Inventors: Ferrazzi, Paolo
• Granted Patent: US 8,337,390 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands

Abstract

An intracardiac device for restoring the functional elasticity of the cardiac structures, in particular for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and or valvulopathies, by storing energy from the cardiac structures and ceding energy to the cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle, has an elongated shape, is at least partially wound in coils and is attachable to a cardiac structure; the coils are selected in material, number and dimension so as to allow an elastic elongation of the intracardiac device higher than 10% of the rest length of the intracardiac device and are exposed, in use, to the blood flow.

Claims

1. An intracardiac device for restoring functional elasticity of cardiac structures, in particular for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and valvulopathies, storing energy from the cardiac structures and ceding energy to the cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle;

wherein the intracardiac device has an elongated shape, is at least partially wound in coils along a given section, and is attachable to a cardiac structure;

said coils being selected in material, number, and dimension to permit elastic elongation of the intracardiac device higher than 10% of the rest length of the intracardiac device, with said coils being exposed to blood flow during use.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said coils are selected by material, number and dimension to permit elastic elongation of the intracardiac device between 10% and 50% of the rest of the length of the intracardiac device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said coils are selected by material, number and dimension to permit elastic contraction of the intracardiac device that is less than 5% of the rest of the length of the intracardiac device.

4. The device according to claim 1 comprising an elongated member realised in metal wire for springs;

the elongated member being at least partially wound in coils along said given section.

5. The device according to claim 4 comprising at least one member directly attachable to the cardiac structure and attached to the elongated member.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the attachable member is attached to the elongated member leaving said coils at least partially freely exposed to blood flow during use.

7. The device according to claim 5, wherein the elongated member and the attachable member are ring-shaped;

each coil of the elongated member being partially embedded in the material of the attachable member.

8. The device according to claim 5, wherein the attachable member has an elongated shape and is arranged alongside and along the elongated member and is extendable up to a maximum length in order to limit extension of the elongated member within a given percentage of the rest length of the elongated member.

9. The device according to claim 8, wherein the attachable member includes a metal mesh tube intersecting with said coils;

the tube being extendable.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the metal mesh tube forms a closed ring.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein said coils define at least one helical spring;

each coil being set at a distance from the adjacent coil in order to permit elastic compression deformation and elastic traction deformation.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the elongated member is wound in coils on a plurality of sections to form a plurality of helical springs;

the intracardiac device comprising a plurality of attachable members attached to the elongated member and alternating with said helical springs.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the attachable member encases the elongated member at least partially.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the attachable members are attached to one another.

15. The device according to claim 5, wherein the attachable member comprises a support structure realised in a material selected from one of the following:

Metal;

Silicone;

Polyurethane;

Dacron®

;

Goretex®

;

16. The device according to claim 15, wherein the attachable member comprises a composite structure comprising the said support structure and a covering in an attachable material;

the covering being realised in a material selected from one of the following;

Dacron®

;

Goretex®

;

Pericardial material;

Metal.

17. An intracardiac device for restoring functional elasticity of cardiac structures, in particular for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and valvulopathies, storing energy from the cardiac structures and ceding energy to the cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle;

the intracardiac device comprising an elongated member including a metal wire wound at least partially along a given section; and

an member attachable to a cardiac structure, attached to the elongated member and defining a complete and homogeneous covering on the metal wire to maintain the shape and form of the metal wire, in particular along the coils;

the said coils being selected in material, number, and dimension for the coils to permit an elastic elongation of the elongated member, higher than 10% of the rest length of the elongated member; and

being exposed to blood flow during use.

18. A method for implanting an intracardiac device in the heart for restoring functional elasticity of cardiac structures, in particular for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and valvulopathies, storing energy from the cardiac structures and ceding energy to the cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle;

wherein the intracardiac device has an elongated shape, is at least partially wound in coils along a given section, and is attachable to a cardiac structure;

the said coils being selected in material, number, and dimension to permit elastic elongation of the intracardiac device higher than 10% of the rest length of the intracardiac device, and being exposed to blood flow during use;

the method including the steps of arranging the intracardiac device in an extended configuration in relation to an at rest configuration; and

attaching the intracardiac device in the extended configuration along an internal face of a cardiac structure.

19. A holding tool of an intracardiac device for restoring functional elasticity of cardiac structures, in particular for the treatment of cardiomyopathies and valvulopathies, storing energy from the cardiac structures and ceding energy to the cardiac structures during the cardiac cycle;

wherein the device has an elongated shape and is, at least partially, wound in coils along a given section and attachable to a cardiac wall;

said coils being selected in material, number, and dimension to permit elastic elongation of the intracardiac device higher than 10% of the rest length of the intracardiac device;

the holding tool comprising a holding unit having a variable configuration in order to maintain the intracardiac device in an at rest configuration and in an extended configuration in relation to the at rest configuration.

20. The holding tool according to claim 19 comprising:

a frame

the holding unit mounted in a mobile manner on said frame

a driving member of the holding unit and conceived to arrange the holding unit between at least a first stable position to support the intracardiac device in the at rest configuration and a second stable position to support the intracardiac device in the extended configuration.