Mitral and tricuspid valve repair

• US 6,695,866 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: St Jude Medical Incorporated (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Hinnenkamp, Thomas F., Holmberg, William R., Shepherd, Terry L., Bergman, Darrin J., Kuehn, Stephen T., Moore, Scott D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Julian W.
• Application Number:
  US09/543,076
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/142, 606/143, 606/151, 606/153, 606/213, 606/215, 606/216, 606/232, 606/75, 606/104, 606/205, 606/116, 606/117, 606/220, 606/144-146, 606/148-150, 606/186, 606/187, 606/141, 227/175.1, 227/51, 227/144, 247/031, 128/898, 600/104
• US Class Current: 606/213
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0643 with separate closing member, e.g. for interlocking with staple
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00353 one mechanical instrument performing multiple functions, e.g. cutting and grasping channel for multiple instruments A61B2017/3445; instrument channel A61B2017/22072; replaceable heads A61B2017/2931; suction A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00783 Valvuloplasty
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2926 Details of heads or jaws
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction

Abstract

A novel approach to mitral or tricuspid valve repair involves the performance of an edge-to-edge fastening/securing of opposing heart valve leaflets through a catheter entering the heart. Thus, a device is introduced including a leaflet fastener applicator through a cardiac catheter or other suitable catheter. The leaflet fastener applicator and cardiac catheter can be formed into a kit. A gripper can be used to hold the heart valve leaflets while they are fastened.

Claims

1. A device comprising a catheter, a leaflet fastener applicator and a functionally independent leaflet gripper, laterally juxtaposed with said fastener applicator wherein said fastener applicator and said gripper extend simultaneously from a single sheft in said catheter.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said fastener applicator comprises two opposing jaws, one of said jaws having a site for holding a tack and the second of said jaws having a site for holding a cap.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said gripper comprises opposing jaws.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said leaflet fastener applicator passes through said catheter such that an actuating element projects from a proximal end of said catheter while a leaflet fastener projects from a distal end of said catheter.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said actuating element comprises a rod extending to said distal end of said leaflet fastener applicator.

6. The device of claim 4 wherein said actuating element comprises a lever that controls the delivery of said leaflet fastener.

7. The device of claim 4 wherein said gripper is inserted through said catheter such that gripping appendages project from said distal end and said actuating element controls said gripping appendages.

8. The device of claim 4 wherein said leaflet fastener comprises a crimp ring.

9. A heart valve gripper/fastener applicator comprising a leaflet gripper and a functionally independent leaflet fastener applicator wherein said gripper and said fastener applicator extend from a single shaft and are configured to by guided through a catheter, wherein said gripper is laterally juxtaposed with said fastener applicator.

10. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein said gripper comprises two opposing jaws.

11. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein said fastener applicator comprises two opposing jaws, one of said jaws having a site for holding a tack and the second of said jaws having a site for holding a cap.

12. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein the gripper comprises a catheter lumen connecting holes near the distal end of said shaft to a suction device at the proximal end of said shaft.

13. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein the fastener applicator comprises a spring.

14. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein the fastener applicator comprises a spiral needle.

15. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein the fastener applicator comprises an automatic suture device comprising pivoting hollow needles.

16. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 9 wherein the fastener applicator comprises a curved needle in a slot at the tip of said shaft.

17. The gripper/fastener applicator of claim 16 wherein the curved needle has suture attached to said needle such that pulling the suture rotates said needle in said slot.

18. A heart valve leaflet fastener applicator comprising two opposing jaws, one of said jaws having a site for holding a tack and the second of said jaws having a site for holding a cap, said jaws connecting to a pivot extending from a shaft wherein a mechanical link to a lever near the distal end of the shaft effectuates pivoting of said jaws at the pivot and wherein said site for holding a tack is movable along its respective jaw.

19. The heart valve leaflet fastener applicator of claim 18 wherein said jaw having a site for holding a tack further comprises a slot wherein a tack can be shifted to a position opposite said site for holding a cap.

20. The fastener applicator of claim 18 further comprising a gripper extending from said shaft.

21. The fastener applicator of claim 20 wherein said gripper comprises opposing jaws.