Heart wall tension reduction apparatus

• US 6,589,160 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Myocor, Inc. (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/985,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20020068849A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16-18, 600/37, 128/897, 128/898, 601/11, 623/3.1, 623/11.11, 623/14.13, 623/23, 623/64, 623/909, 623/910, 623/922
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0429 the barbs being expanded by a mechanical mechanism which also locks them in the expanded state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/91 Heart

Abstract

An apparatus for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the wall tension therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other.

Claims

1. A device for securing an elongate member in a position transverse a heart chamber, the device comprising:

an anchor assembly configured to be secured to an end of the elongate member, wherein the anchor assembly has a collapsed undeployed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration in which the anchor assembly secures the elongate member in a position transverse the heart chamber.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the anchor assembly is configured to expand in a radial direction from the elongate member.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the undeployed configuration, the anchor assembly is configured to collapse along a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the anchor assembly is configured to engage an exterior surface of a heart wall.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the anchor assembly comprises a plurality of legs.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the anchor assembly comprises two legs.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the legs are configured to extend in substantially opposite radial directions when the anchor assembly is in the deployed configuration.

8. The device of claim 5, wherein the anchor assembly includes a central portion and the legs are hingedly connected to the central portion.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the central portion of the anchor assembly is configured to be secured to the end of the elongate member.

10. The device of claim 5, wherein the anchor assembly further comprises webbing disposed between the legs.

11. A device for treating a heart, the device comprising:

an elongate member having a first end and a second end and being configured to extend transverse a heart chamber;

a first anchor assembly disposed on the first end of the elongate member; and

a second anchor assembly disposed on the second end of the elongate member,

wherein the first and second anchor assemblies are configured to secure the elongate member with respect to the heart, and

wherein at least one of the first anchor assembly and the second anchor assembly has a collapsed undeployed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration in which the at least one anchor assembly secures the elongate member with respect to the heart.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein, in the deployed configuration, the at least one anchor assembly is configured to expand in a radial direction from the elongate member.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein, in the undeployed configuration, the at least one anchor assembly is configured to collapse along a longitudinal axis of the elongate member.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein in the deployed configuration, the at least one anchor assembly is configured to engage an exterior surface of a heart wall.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one anchor assembly comprises a plurality of legs.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one anchor assembly includes a central portion and the legs are hingedly connected to the central portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the central portion is configured to be secured to the end of the elongate member on which the at least one anchor assembly is disposed.

18. The device of claim 15, wherein the at least one anchor assembly further comprises webbing between the legs.

19. The device of claim 11, wherein the at least one anchor assembly comprises two legs.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the legs are configured to extend in substantially opposite radial directions when the at least one anchor assembly is in the deployed configuration.