Attachment System, Device and Method

• US 20110118766A1
• Filed: 11/14/2010
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Original Assignee: Thoratec LLC
• Inventors: Costa, Ruth Eleanor, Nguyen, John Duc, Hoarau, Carine, Badia, James, Reichenbach, Steven H., Hannula, Donald Lee
• Granted Patent: US 9,682,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/153
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/32053 Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695; for use on the cornea A61F9/007
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/148 in line with a blood vessel using resection or like techniques, e.g. permanent endovascular heart assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/178 drawing blood from a ventricle and returning the blood to the arterial system via a cannula external to the ventricle, e.g. left or right ventricular assist devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/232 Centrifugal pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/237 the blood flow through the rotating member having mainly axial components, e.g. axial flow pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/863 Apex rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 60/896 having flexible or resilient parts, e.g. flap valves

Abstract

A ventricular assist system and a method of implanting the system are disclosed. The system can have a pump, an inflow conduit, an outflow conduit, attachment ring, ring clamp, and a valvular structure. The attachment ring can be attached to the apex of the heart. The valvular structure can have a flexible, one-way valve in a rigid housing. The inflow conduit can be passed through the valvular structure and the attachment ring into a beating heart with minimal loss of blood. Devices such as slitting tool, coring knife, and/or C-clamp and use of the devices can form part of the system and method for implanting the ventricular assist device.

Claims

1. An attachment ring assembly for attaching an inflow conduit to the heart, the assembly comprising:

a ring wall having a distal end and a proximal end, the ring wall forming a fluid passageway between the distal end and the proximal end;

an interface lip at the proximal end, the interface lip extending radially outward from the ring wall;

a cuff disposed at the distal end, the cuff extending radially outward from the ring wall; and

a ring valve attached to the ring wall and configured to prevent fluid flow from the distal end to the proximal end.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface lip and the cuff encircle the ring wall.

3. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ring seal extending radially inward from the ring wall, the ring seal being annular in shape.

4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the ring seal is disposed at the proximal end of the ring wall.

5. The assembly of claim 4, further comprising a proximal reinforcement band embedded within the proximal end of the ring wall, the proximal reinforcement band being annular in shape.

6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a distal band adjacent the distal end of the ring wall, the distal band extending radially outward from the ring wall, wherein the cuff is secured to the distal band.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the cuff comprises felt that is secured on the distal band.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a fiber mesh is embedded within any one or both of the ring wall and interface lip.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the ring valve includes flexible members configured to open in response to passage of an instrument through the fluid passageway and to close autonomously upon removal of the instrument from the fluid passageway.

10. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a ring seal extending radially inward from the ring wall, the ring seal being annular in shape, and wherein the ring valve is disposed between the ring seal and the distal end of the ring wall.

11. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the interface lip comprises at least one alignment feature selected from the group consisting of a groove, indentation, and marking.

153. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ring clamp configured to lock around a segment of the ring wall between the interface lip and the cuff.

154. The assembly of claim 153, wherein when the ring clamp is locked around the segment of the ring wall, the ring clamp compresses the segment of the ring wall.

12-152. -152. (canceled)

155. An attachment ring assembly for attaching an inflow conduit to the heart, the assembly comprising:

a ring wall having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the ring wall is configured to receive a ring clamp used for securing a conduit, after being inserted into the attachment ring, against the ring wall;

an interface lip at the proximal end, the interface lip extending radially outward from the ring wall; and

a cuff disposed at the distal end, the cuff extending radially outward from the ring wall.

156. The assembly of claim 155, wherein the ring clamp can lock around the ring wall, and wherein when the ring clamp is locked around the ring wall, the ring clamp compresses the ring wall.

157. The assembly of claim 155, wherein the ring clamp includes a clamp frame, a clamp lever attached to a terminus of the clamp frame, and a clamp handle attached to a second terminus of the clamp frame, wherein movement of the clamp handle moves the first terminus and the second terminus relative to each other.

158. The assembly of claim 155, wherein the ring clamp includes:

a first curved segment including a first end, a second end, and a hook at the second end;

a second curved segment including a first end, a second end, and a groove, the first end of the second curved segment pivotally connected to the first end of the first curved segment;

a third curved segment including a first end, a second end, and a catch at the second end, the catch sized to fit within the hook; and

a lever including a first lever end, a second lever end, and a medial segment, the first lever end pivotally connected to the second end of the second curved segment, the medial segment pivotally connected to the first end of the third curved segment.

159. The assembly of claim 155, wherein the ring clamp includes:

a flexible ring including a first end and a second end;

a first ratchet member at the first end;

a guard member at the first end; and

a second ratchet member at the second end, the second ratchet member configured to fit within an open channel between the guard member and the first ratchet member.

160. The assembly of claim 155, further comprising a ring seal extending radially inward from the ring wall, the ring seal being annular in shape.

161. The assembly of claim 155, wherein the ring wall forms a fluid passageway;

and the assembly further comprises a ring valve attached to the ring wall and blocking the fluid passageway, the ring valve includes flexible members configured to open in response to passage of an instrument through the fluid passageway and to close autonomously upon removal of the instrument from the fluid passageway.