HEART VALVE REPAIR

• US 20160278920A1
• Filed: 03/22/2016
• Published: 09/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St. Jude Medical Cardiology Division Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Braido, Peter N., Fahim, Mina S., Benson, Thomas M., Dale, Theodore Paul, Para, Andrea N., Krans, Mark, Glimsdale, Mathias Charles
• Granted Patent: US 10,456,256 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00867 shape memory effect for prostheses A61F2210/0014
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• 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 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. 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 2210/0004 bioabsorbable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0033 electrically, e.g. heated by resistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0061 swellable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0065 toroidal, e.g. ring-shaped, doughnut-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2230/0095 Saddle-shaped
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0003 having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0018 differing in elasticity, stiffness or compressibility
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0029 differing in bending or flexure capacity

Abstract

A device for repairing a native heart valve includes a reinforcing structure configured to couple to a portion of the native heart valve to remodel a geometry of the native heart valve, and at least one supporting member connected to the reinforcing structure.

Claims

1. A device for repairing a native heart valve, comprising:

a reinforcing structure configured to couple to a portion of the native heart valve to remodel a geometry of the native heart valve; and

at least one supporting member connected to the reinforcing structure.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a collapsible and expandable toroidal body, and the supporting member comprises a plurality of coils for connecting the toroidal body to a predetermined location in a native valve annulus.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of hooks for connecting the toroidal body to native valve leaflets.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a body having a shape corresponding to a shape of a perimeter of the native heart valve and the at supporting member comprises at least one flap coupled to the body and configured to support at least one native leaflet of the native heart valve.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises a rigid brace configured to couple to a fibrous ring of the native heart valve.

6. A device for repairing a native heart valve, comprising:

at least one tether extending from a first end to a second end; and

an anchor assembled to the tether and movable along a length of the tether, the anchor being operable to couple the tether to heart tissue, whereby movement of the anchor along the length of the tether is operable to remodel the geometry of a native heart valve.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the anchor includes a piercing member.

8. The device of claim 6, further comprising a base configured and arranged for coupling to a left atrial appendage, the tether being coupled to the base at the first end.

9. The device of claim 8, further comprising an adjusting member coupled to the base and configured to adjust the length of the tether.

10. The device of claim 6, further comprising a central hub coupled to the first end the tether, the tether including multiple tethers extending from the hub in multiple directions.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the tether includes multiple tethers defining a dome-like structure including cascading tethers extending in a longitudinal direction from an upper portion, and lateral tethers interconnecting the cascading tethers.

12. The device of claim 6, wherein the tether is configured to attach to at least one of an atrial wall, a ventricular wall, one or more of a native valve leaflet, a fibrous ring, a papillary muscle, chordae tendineae, a left atrial appendage, a vein and an artery.

13. The device of claim 6, wherein the at least one tether includes a plurality of tethers, each of the tethers having a length, an anchor being assembled to each of the tethers and movable along the length of the tether, the anchors being operable to couple each of the tethers to heart tissue, whereby movement of the anchors along the lengths of the tethers is operable to remodel the geometry of a native heart valve.

14. A method of remodeling a geometry of a native heart valve comprising:

introducing at least one tether having a length to the heart tissue;

coupling an anchor to heart tissue, the anchor being assembled to the tether and moveable along the length of the tether; and

moving the anchor along the length of the tether to remodel the geometry of a native heart valve.