Method and apparatus for improving mitral valve function
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
- inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and being so configured that the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation. The apparatus is inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being adapted to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation and reduce mitral regurgitation.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and being so configured that the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to straighten the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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2. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and being so configured that the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to move at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve anteriorly, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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3. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and being so configured that the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to reduce the degree of natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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4. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and being so configured that the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion app lies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to increase the natural radius of curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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5. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, the apparatus being configured so that when the apparatus is positioned in the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a substantially straight elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the substantially straight elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially straight elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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14. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a substantially rigid and substantially straight elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the elongated body being configured relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a different configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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15. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting a substantially straight, substantially rigid elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
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an elongated substantially straight body having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, the body being configured so that when the body is positioned in the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the distal and proximal ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus, and the intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, whereby to move the posterior annulus of the mitral valve anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
a guidewire dimensioned for slidable disposition in the body central lumen; and
a cannula for sliding disposition on said guidewire;
whereby said body and said cannula are mountable on said guidewire and movement of said cannula on said guidewire in a distal direction pushes said body distally along said guidewire.
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33. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a substantially straight elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, and adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the substantially straight elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the substantially straight elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus, moving it anteriorly, and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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34. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a substantially rigid and substantially straight elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body applies a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a different configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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35. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
a substantially straight, substantially rigid elongated body having a distal end, a proximal end, and an intermediate portion, and adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the length of the elongated body being sized relative to the natural curvature of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve so that when the elongated body is positioned in the coronary sinus, the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to cause at least a portion of the coronary sinus to assume a substantially straight configuration adjacent to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to increase the radius of curvature of the mitral annulus, moving it anteriorly, and thereby improve leaflet coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
inserting an elongated substantially straight apparatus having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the apparatus being so configured that the apparatus ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the apparatus intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to invert the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
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47. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising:
an elongated substantially straight body having a distal end, a proximal end and an intermediate portion, and adapted to be inserted into the coronary sinus of a patient in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, the body being so configured that the body ends apply a posteriorly-directed force to the posterior wall of the coronary sinus and the body intermediate portion applies an anteriorly-directed force to the anterior wall of the coronary sinus, to invert the natural curvature of at least a portion of the coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, whereby to move the posterior annulus anteriorly and thereby improve leaflet coaptation.
Specification