METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR LONG TERM ADJUSTMENT OF AN IMPLANTABLE DEVICE

• US 20110202130A1
• Filed: 07/29/2009
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cartledge, Richard G., Cartledge, John P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,084,677 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.37
• 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 2210/009 magnetic
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods and systems for adjusting an implant, such as a mitral valve ring, over the long term without having to enter a patient'"'"'s body. The long term adjustment system can include a magnet, or other magnetic material, that is functionally connected to the adjustment mechanism of an adjustable implant. The long term adjustment system can be activated by placing an activating magnet near the area of the patient'"'"'s body where the adjustable implant is located and positioning the activating magnet so that an attractive force is generated between the activating magnet and the magnet that is functionally connected to the adjustable implant. Due to the attractive force between the two magnets, rotation of the magnet outside the patient'"'"'s body will adjust the size and/or shape of the implant.

Claims

1. A system for adjusting the dimensions of an adjustable implant, comprising:

a magnetic material functionally connected to the adjustable implant; and

an activating magnet.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a locking mechanism for preventing adjustment of the adjustable implant.

3. A method for adjusting the dimensions of an adjustable implant, comprising:

implanting the adjustable implant and a magnetic material functionally connected to the adjustable implant into a patient'"'"'s body;

positioning an activating magnet outside the patient'"'"'s body; and

rotating the activating magnet until a desired adjustment has been made to the adjustable implant.