TRICUSPID VALVE REPAIR USING TENSION

• US 20130046380A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 02/21/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 4Tech Inc.
• Original Assignee: 4Tech Inc.
• Inventors: Maisano, Francesco, Perevalov, Valery, Hof, Rephael, Alfieri, Ottavio, Vanermen, Hugo, Tobis, Idan
• Application Number:
  US13/574,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20130046380A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• 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 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00407 Ratchet means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0412 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from suture anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• 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 2017/0443 the shaft being resilient and having a coiled or helical shape in the released state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0488 Instruments for applying suture clamps, clips or locks for applying suture anchors A61B2017/0409; for applying wound clamps A61B17/10; for applying ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/128
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2442 Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/246 Devices for obstructing a leak through a native valve in a closed condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 : Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/848 : having means for fixation to the vessel wall, e.g. barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/90 : characterised by a net-like or mesh-like structure
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/915 : with bands having a meander structure, adjacent bands being connected to each other
• 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 2220/0008 : Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 : with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0013 : Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0054 : V-shaped

Abstract

Apparatus is provided including a stent, which is configured to assume compressed and expanded states. The stent includes one or more elongated members, and two or more rings, which are coupled together by the one or more elongated members and by no other elements of the stent. The rings define respective planes that are generally perpendicular to the elongated members when the stent is in its expanded state. A longitudinal member, having a proximal end and a distal end, is coupled to the stent at the proximal end of the longitudinal member. A tissue anchor is coupled to the distal end of the longitudinal member. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1-59. -59. (canceled)

60. Apparatus comprising:

a stent, which is configured to assume compressed and expanded states, and which comprises;

one or more elongated members; and

two or more rings, which are coupled together by the one or more elongated members and by no other elements of the stent, and which define respective planes that are generally perpendicular to the elongated members when the stent is in its expanded state;

a longitudinal member, having a proximal end and a distal end, which proximal end is coupled to the stent; and

a tissue anchor, which is coupled to the distal end of the longitudinal member.

61. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the stent comprises exactly two rings.

62. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the stent comprises exactly one elongated member.

63. The apparatus according to claim 62, wherein the elongated member comprises two or more wires coupled to one another.

64. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein one of the elongated members is at least partially a continuation of the longitudinal member.

65. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein each of the rings has an outer diameter of between 10 and 35 mm, when the stent is in its expanded state.

89. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the two or more rings are coaxial with respect to each other and each ring has a center positioned along a longitudinal axis of the stent, when the stent is in its expanded state.

90. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the two or more rings comprise between 3 and 5 rings.

91. The apparatus according to claim 60, wherein the two or more rings comprise exactly two rings, and wherein a distance between the two rings is between 10 and 40 mm, when the stent is in its expanded state.

92. The apparatus according to claim 91, wherein the one or more elongated members has a length of between 10 and 40 mm, when the stent is in its expanded state.

66. A method comprising:

providing a (a) stent, which includes (i) one or more elongated members; and

(ii) two or more rings, which are coupled together by the one or more elongated members and by no other elements of the stent, (b) a longitudinal member, having a proximal end and a distal end, which proximal end is coupled to the stent, and (c) a tissue anchor, which is coupled to the distal end of the longitudinal member;

positioning the stent in a blood vessel of a patient while the stent is in a compressed state;

coupling the tissue anchor to tissue in a vicinity of a heart valve of the patient; and

transitioning the stent to an expanded state, such that the rings define respective planes that are generally perpendicular to the elongated members, and anchor the stent to a wall of the blood vessel.

67. The method according to claim 66, wherein providing the stent comprises providing the stent which includes exactly two rings.

68. The method according to claim 66, wherein providing the stent comprises providing the stent which includes exactly one elongated member.

69. The method according to claim 66, wherein providing the stent comprises providing the stent in which one of the elongated members is at least partially a continuation of the longitudinal member.

70. The method according to claim 66, wherein positioning the stent in the blood vessel comprises positioning the stent in a blood vessel selected from the group of blood vessels consisting of:

a superior vena cava, and an inferior vena cava.

71. The method according to claim 66, further comprising monitoring a level of regurgitation of the heart valve in conjunction with the positioning of the stent in the blood vessel.

93. The method according to claim 66, wherein transitioning the stent to the expanded state comprises making indentations in a wall of of the blood vessel by pushing the ring against a wall of the blood vessel.

94. The method according to claim 66, wherein transitioning the stent to the expanded state comprises positioning the two rings at a distance between the two rings between 10 and 40mm.

95. The method according to claim 66, wherein transitioning the stent to the expanded state comprises anchoring the stent to the blood vessel by friction.

72-88. -88. (canceled)