Method and apparatus for minimally invasive treatment of chronic venous insufficiency
First Claim
1. A method for treating chronic venous insufficiency using a minimally invasive catheter based system, the method comprising:
- providing an appliance for repairing an incompetent valve in a vein and a catheter for delivering the appliance;
inserting the catheter and the appliance into a vein of a patient;
positioning the appliance proximate the incompetent valve; and
deploying the appliance such that the valve is repaired to be substantially competent.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is embodied in an appliance or a prosthesis and a delivery catheter for use in a vein for minimally invasive treatment of chronic venous insufficiency. The system and method of the invention eliminate the need for open surgical valve repair procedures, obviate the need for arm vein transplantation into the leg, and allow patients to return to their former active lifestyles without the limitations currently associated with the treatment of this condition. An incompetent valve to be repaired is identified by injected contrast through the delivery catheter or similar means and the catheter is positioned at that valve, a clip appliance or similar prosthesis is deployed from the catheter and affixed to the valve. Next, the delivery catheter is repositioned and appliances or prostheses are deployed on sequentially lower valves until all desired valves are repaired and functionally competent.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. A method for treating chronic venous insufficiency using a minimally invasive catheter based system, the method comprising:
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providing an appliance for repairing an incompetent valve in a vein and a catheter for delivering the appliance; inserting the catheter and the appliance into a vein of a patient; positioning the appliance proximate the incompetent valve; and deploying the appliance such that the valve is repaired to be substantially competent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system configured to be deployable intraluminally to repair an incompetent valve within a vein to competence, the system comprising:
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a clip including a first leg, a second leg, and a junction connecting the first leg to the second leg; and a catheter including a distal end configured to be deployed intraluminally within a vein, the clip being positioned at the distal end of the catheter, wherein the clip is deployed to engage an incompetent valve in the vein to repair the valve to competence. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. An implantable appliance configured to be deployable via a catheter and configured to repair an incompetent valve within a vein to competence, the appliance comprising:
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a clip having a first leg, a second leg, and a junction connecting the first leg to the second leg, the junction biasing the first leg away from the second leg; a cord attaching the first leg to the second leg; a rotating element attached to the cord at the second leg; and a latch having a first end and a second end, the second end of the latch being attached to the second leg, and the first end of the latch being configured to be secured to the first leg; wherein applying a force to the rotating element of the first leg causes the cord to move the first leg closer to the second leg so that the latch can connect the first leg to the second leg, and the first leg and the second leg are adjusted into position at an incompetent valve in a vein to return the valve to competence. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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Specification