SYNTHETIC CHORD FOR CARDIAC VALVE REPAIR APPLICATIONS

• US 20150045879A1
• Filed: 07/25/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Charles Somers Living Trust
• Original Assignee: Lc Therapeutics, Inc.
• Inventors: Longoria, James, Chin, Roy
• Application Number:
  US14/341,722
• Publication Number:
  US 20150045879A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 623/2.12
• 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 17/06 Needles ; Sutures; Needle-suture combinations; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials puncturing needles A61B17/34; hypodermic needles A61M5/32 ; sewing needles D05B85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0406 Pledgets
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0419 H-fasteners
• 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 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0091 helically-coiled or spirally-coiled, i.e. having a 2-D spiral cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/005 differing in colour

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, wherein the securing member transitions from a linear to a planar configuration upon separation of the piercing member from the attachment element. 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, wherein the securing member transitions from a linear to a planar configuration upon separation of the tissue piercing member from the attachment element; 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 linear configuration is one that lacks a secondary structure and the planar configuration is one that has a secondary structure.

3. The synthetic chord device according to claim 2, wherein the secondary structure is a spiral configuration.

4. The synthetic chord device according to claim 3, wherein the spiral configuration has 1.5 turns.

5. The synthetic chord device according to claim 3, wherein the securing member includes a planar maintenance structure.

6. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the linear configuration comprises the securing member having a longitudinal axis at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible connector and the planar configuration comprises the securing member having a longitudinal axis at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible connector.

7. The synthetic chord device according to claim 6, wherein the securing member is a bar.

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

9. The synthetic chord device according to claim 8, wherein shape memory material is a metal alloy.

10. The synthetic chord device according to claim 9, wherein the metal alloy comprises a nickel alloy.

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

15. 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.

16. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, wherein the tissue piercing member and securing member are operably connected to each other by an interlocking member.

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

18. The synthetic chord device according to claim 1, reinforcing element is one that transitions from a first linear configuration is that lacks a secondary structure to a second planar configuration that has a secondary structure.

19. The synthetic chord device according to claim 18, wherein the secondary structure is a spiral configuration.

20. The synthetic chord device according to claim 19, wherein reinforcing element is one that transitions from a first linear configuration that comprises the reinforcing element having a longitudinal axis at least substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the flexible connector to a second planar configuration that comprises the reinforcing element having a longitudinal axis at least substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the flexible connector.

21. The synthetic chord device according to claim 20, wherein the securing member is a bar.

11-13. -13. (canceled)

22-29. -29. (canceled)

30. 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, wherein the securing member transitions from a linear to a planar configuration upon separation of the tissue piercing member from the attachment element; 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

(c) separating the tissue piercing member from the attachment element to transition the securing element to a planar configuration and connect the first tissue to the second tissue.

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, wherein the securing member transitions from a linear to a planar configuration upon separation of the tissue piercing member from the attachment element; and

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

32-33. -33. (canceled)