Device for removal of an aorta valve at a human heart in course of a minimal surgical operation

• US 6,764,494 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, University Hospital Freiburg
• Original Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, University Hospital Freiburg
• Inventors: Menz, Wolfgang, Schoth, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Roberts, Paul
• Application Number:
  US09/971,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20020082630A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,015 Days
• Field of Search: 606/159, 606/180, 606/79, 606/170, 606/171, 606/194, 606/200, 606/198, 623/1.24, 623/1.21, 623/2.16, 623/2.2
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320758 with a rotating cutting instrument, e.g. motor driven A61B17/320725, A61B17/32075 and A61B17/320783 take precedence; for removing intra-ocular material A61F9/00763; endoscopic rotatable cutting instruments A61B17/32002
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2412 with soft flexible valve members, e.g. tissue valves shaped like natural valves check valves with flexible valve members in general F16K15/14
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0059 temporary

Abstract

What is described here is a device for ablation of an aortic valve on the human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising a centering and fixing body adapted to be introduced inside the aorta, which can be fixed relative to the aorta via at least one holding means, a drive shaft projecting centrally through said centering and fixing body, at least in part, and presenting a distal end, a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in the region of the distal end of the drive shaft, as well as an aspiration device provided on the proximal side, relative to said cutting means, on said centering and fixing body.

Claims

1. A device for ablation of an aortic valve of a human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising:

a body having distal and proximal ends which is for introduction inside the aorta, the body being for fixing relative to the aorta by at least one holding device which is attached to the body and which is for engaging the aorta;

a drive shaft, projecting centrally at least in part through the body and outside of the distal end;

a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in a region outside of the distal end for abating the aortic valve; and

an aspiration device for aspirating debris from cutting of the aortic valve through at least one passage in the body facing the aorta, and disposed radially outward from the drive shaft, extending through the body and a catheter for fluid communication with the proximal end and the aspiration device for aspirating debris in aortic blood of a patient resultant from ablation of the aortic valve, and wherein

the body is a hollow cylinder for attachment to a distal end of the catheter while inside the patient and comprises an electric motor from which projects the drive shaft that extends through the hollow cylinder and through a cover plate at the distal end connected to the hollow cylinder.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

the body is a cylinder having a wall and the at least one passage is disposed inside the wall and the at least one passage is for connecting the flow of blood and debris from a volume inside the aortia between the aortic valve and the distal end of the body to the catheter.

3. A device according to claim 2, wherein:

the cylinder has a wall on which the holding device is

provided and the holding device is one of a dilatable volume element or holding webs which spread away from the cylinder.

4. A device according to claim 3, wherein:

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and is slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein:

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and is slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.

6. A device according to claim 2, wherein:

the body is a hollow cylinder, attached to a distal end of the catheter, through which the drive shaft extends and projects through a cover plate that is connected to the hollow cylinder at the distal end.

7. A device according to claim 6, wherein:

at least one opening is provided in the cover plate which is coupled to the at least one passage extending through the body which is coupled to the aspiration device by the catheter through which the debris and aortic blood pass.

8. A device according to claim 3, wherein:

the body is a hollow cylinder, attached to a distal end of the catheter, through which the drive shaft extends and projects through a cover plate that is connected to the hollow cylinder at the distal end.

9. A device according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one opening is provided in the cover plate which is coupled to the at least one passage extending through the body which is coupled to the aspiration device by the catheter through which the debris and aortic blood pass.

10. A device according to claim 6, wherein:

at least one radially extending inflatable artificial cardiac valve that when inflated extends from the body and bears in a fluid-tight manner against an inside wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the wall of the aorta in a deflated condition.

11. A device according to claim 7, wherein:

at least one radially extending inflatable artificial cardiac valve that when inflated extends from the body and bears in a fluid-tight manner against an inside wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the wall of the aorta in a deflated condition.

12. A device according to claim 8, wherein:

at least one radially extending inflatable artificial cardiac valve that when inflated extends from the body and bears in a fluid-tight manner against an inside wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the wall of the aorta in a deflated condition.

13. A device according to claim 9, wherein:

at least one radially extending inflatable artificial cardiac valve that when inflated extends from the body and bears in a fluid-tight manner against an inside wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the wall of the aorta in a deflated condition.

14. A device according to claim 6, wherein:

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and is slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.

15. A device according to claim 5, wherein:

the drive shaft is supported for longitudinal movement relative to the cover plate such that the supporting elements of the cutter are spreadable resultant from longitudinal movement relative to the cover plate which causes radial movement of the cutting elements dependent upon the direction of the longitudinal movement.

16. A device according to claim 15, wherein:

at least one opening is provided in the cover plate which is coupled to the at least one passage extending through the body which is coupled to the aspiration device by the catheter through which the debris and aortic blood pass.

17. A device according to claim 16, comprising:

at least one radially extending inflatable artificial cardiac valve that when inflated extends from the body and is for bearing in a fluid-tight manner against an inside wall of the aorta and can be spaced from the wall of the aorta in a deflated condition.

18. A device according to claim 17, wherein:

at least one duct is provided inside the body, through which at least one inflatable artifical cardiac valve connected to the body, including a resilient membrane, is inflated and deflated again.

19. A device according to claim 16, wherein:

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and is slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.

20. A device according to claim 18, wherein:

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.

21. A device for ablation of an aortic valve of a human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising:

a body having distal and proximal ends which is for introduction inside the aorta, the body being for fixing relative to the aorta by at least one holding device which is attached to the body and which is for engaging the aorta;

a drive shaft, projecting centrally at least in part through the body and outside of the distal end;

a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in a region outside of the distal end for abating the aortic valve; and

an aspiration device for aspirating debris from cutting of the aortic valve through at least one passage in the body facing the aorta, and disposed radially outward from the drive shaft, extending through the body and a catheter for fluid communication with the proximal end and the aspiration device for aspirating debris in aortic blood of a patient resultant from ablation of the aortic valve; and

wherein

the body is a hollow cylinder, attached to a distal end of the catheter, through which the drive shaft extends and projects through a cover plate that is connected to the hollow cylindrical at the distal end.

22. A device for ablation of an aortic valve of a human heart by a minimally invasive surgical operation, comprising:

a body having distal and proximal ends which is for introduction inside the aorta, the body being for fixing relative to the aorta by at least one holding device which is attached to the body and which is for engaging the aorta;

a drive shaft, projecting centrally at least in part through the body and outside of the distal end;

a cutting device fixedly mounted for rotation on the drive shaft in a region outside of the distal end for abating the aortic valve; and

an aspiration device for aspirating debris from cutting of the aortic valve through at least one passage in the body facing the aorta, and disposed radially outward from the drive shaft, extending through the body and a catheter for fluid communication with the proximal end and the aspiration device for aspirating debris in aortic blood of a patient resultant from ablation of the aortic valve; and

wherein

the cutting device comprises at least two cutting tools disposed in symmetry relative to the drive shaft, with each cutting tool being provided with a supporting element which is deformed in the longitudinal direction relative to the drive shaft to vary a cutting radius of the cutting tool and is fixedly connected on a distal end of the drive shaft and is slideably connected to the drive shaft at a second location located closer to the distal end of the drive shaft.