SYNTHETIC CHORD FOR CARDIAC VALVE REPAIR APPLICATIONS

• US 20140364938A1
• Filed: 06/04/2014
• Published: 12/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intrepid Medical, Inc., Lc Therapeutics, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lc Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Longoria, James, Chin, Roy
• Application Number:
  US14/296,276
• Publication Number:
  US 20140364938A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses

Abstract

Synthetic chord devices and methods for using the same for connecting tissues are provided. Aspects of the synthetic chord devices include a first flexible connector having first and second ends. Located at the first end is an attachment element that includes a piercing member coupled to a securing member, where the securing member is configured to attach the flexible connector to a tissue. A reinforcing element is located at the second end. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications, such as cardiac valve, e.g., mitral valve repair; or tissue closure.

Claims

1. A synthetic chord comprising:

(a) a first flexible connector comprising a first end and a second end;

(b) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member located at the first end of the flexible connector; and

(c) a reinforcing element located at a second end of the flexible connector.

2. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member is a self-closing fastener.

3. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises a shape memory material.

4. The synthetic chord device according to claim 3, wherein shape memory material is a metal alloy.

5. The synthetic chord device according to claim 4, wherein the metal alloy comprises a nickel alloy.

6. The synthetic chord device according to claim 5, wherein the nickel alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy.

7. The synthetic chord device according to claim 5, wherein the nickel alloy is a chromium-cobalt-nickel alloy.

8. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member comprises stainless steel.

9. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the tissue piercing member comprises a needle.

10. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the securing member and tissue piercing member of the attachment element are separated from each other by a second flexible connector.

11. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element is a pledget.

12. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible connector comprises a polymer.

13. The synthetic chord device according to claim 12, wherein the polymer comprises expanded PTFE (ePTFE).

14. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the first flexible connector has a length ranging from 5 mm to 100 mm.

15. A method for connecting a first tissue to a second tissue, the method comprising:

(a) passing a tissue piercing member of a synthetic chord device through the first tissue, wherein the synthetic chord device comprises;

(i) a first flexible connector comprising a first end and a second end;

(ii) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member located at the first end of the flexible connector; and

(iii) a reinforcing element located at a second end of the flexible connector;

so that the reinforcing element contacts the first tissue;

(b) passing the tissue piercing member through the second tissue; and

(d) deploying the securing element into the second tissue to connect the first tissue to the second tissue.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising:

(a) determining a desired length of the flexible connector by measuring a desired distance between the first tissue and the second tissue; and

(b) selecting a synthetic chord device having a flexible connector with the desired length from a set of two or more synthetic chord devices.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the securing member is a self-closing fastener.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the securing member comprises a shape memory material.

30. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first tissue is a papillary muscle and the second tissue is a cardiac valve leaflet.

19-29. -29. (canceled)

31. A kit comprising:

a set of two or more synthetic chord devices, each device of said set comprising;

(a) a first flexible connector comprising a first end and a second end;

(b) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member located at the first end of the flexible connector; and

(c) a reinforcing element located at a second end of the flexible connector.

32-33. -33. (canceled)