APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HEART VALVE REPAIR

• US 20140128970A1
• Filed: 06/12/2012
• Published: 05/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical LLC (Abbott Laboratories)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories)
• Inventors: Griffin, Mark, Morris, Benjamin E., Bielefeld, Eric E., Furnish, Gregory R., Johnson, Wayne Allen
• Granted Patent: US 9,532,874 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00429 with a roughened portion
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints

Abstract

A device 10 for repairing mitral valve leaflets 2, 3 includes a jaw mechanism 15 that may be positioned adjacent a mitral valve leaflet 2, 3. The jaw mechanism 15 may move between an open position and a closed position by pivoting a first jaw relative 16 to a second jaw 18. The first jaw 16 may include a rivet 28 that may move from a stored position to an application position projecting away from the first jaw 16 when the jaw mechanism 15 is moved from the closed to the open position. Closing the jaws 16, 18 about a valve leaflet 2, 3 causes the rivet 28 to pierce the leaflet. The jaw mechanism 15 may then be rotated to wind the leaflet 2, 3 thereabout and again pierce the leaflet. The rivet 28 may then be released from the jaw mechanism 25 and the device 10 removed from the patient.

Claims

1. A device for repair of a heart valve leaflet, the device comprising:

an elongated body having a proximal end and a distal end;

a jaw mechanism on the distal end of the elongated body, the jaw mechanism including a first jaw and a second jaw operable to pivot relative to one another between an open position and a closed position, the jaw mechanism in the open position defining a receiving space between the first jaw and the second jaw; and

a rivet mounted to the first jaw and movable from a stored position to an application position, the rivet in the application position projecting away from the first jaw toward the second jaw, the rivet having a sharp free end adapted to pierce the heart valve leaflet,

wherein movement of the jaw mechanism from the open position to the closed position with the heart valve leaflet in the receiving space and the rivet in the application position causes the rivet to pierce the heart valve leaflet.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the first jaw is fixed relative to the elongated body and the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw.

3. The device of claim 2, further comprising an operating mechanism for pivoting the second jaw into the open position.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a spring element interposed between the rivet and the first jaw for biasing the rivet towards the application position.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the spring element includes at least one torsion spring.

6. The device of claim 4, wherein the first jaw has a compartment for receiving the rivet in the stored position, and the second jaw is configured to hold the rivet in the compartment when the secured jaw is in the closed position.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the second jaw has a slot sized to receive the sharp free end of the rivet there through when the rivet is in the application position and the second jaw is in the closed position.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one sharpened structure projecting laterally from the second jaw for providing traction for the jaw mechanism as the jaw mechanism is rotated against the tissue of the heart valve leaflet.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the first jaw has a tissue grasping surface and the second jaw has a tissue grasping surface, the tissue grasping surfaces of the first and second jaws confronting one another in the closed position, at least one of the tissue grasping surfaces being textured.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the jaw mechanism is formed from an echogenic material.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the second jaw has a thickness between a first surface facing toward the first jaw and a second surface opposite the first surface; and

the rivet has a length greater than the thickness of the second jaw so that the rivet protrudes beyond the second surface of the second jaw when the second jaw is in the closed position.

12. A method of repairing a heart valve leaflet in a patient, the method comprising:

positioning a jaw mechanism adjacent the heart valve leaflet, the jaw mechanism including a first jaw, a second jaw, and a rivet mounted to the first jaw in a stored position, the rivet having a sharp free end;

moving the jaw mechanism to an open position to create a receiving space between the first jaw and the second jaw;

moving the rivet from the stored position to an application position in which the sharp free end of the rivet projects away from the first jaw toward the second jaw;

capturing the heart valve leaflet in the receiving space;

moving the jaw mechanism to a closed position in which the second jaw confronts the first jaw, whereby the sharp free end of the rivet pierces the heart valve leaflet at a first location and the heart valve leaflet is clamped between the first jaw and the second jaw;

rotating the jaw mechanism so that the heart valve leaflet winds around the jaw mechanism;

piercing the sharpened tip of the rivet through the heart valve leaflet at a second location different from the first location; and

releasing the rivet from the first jaw.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of moving the jaw mechanism to the open position includes pivoting the second jaw member away from the first jaw member.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of moving the rivet to the application position occurs as the jaw mechanism is moved to the open position.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the rivet is biased from the stored position to the application position.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein maintaining the jaw mechanism in the closed position maintains the rivet in the stored position.