Heart wall tension reduction apparatus

• US 6,793,618 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2002
• Issued: 09/21/2004
• 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:
  US10/326,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20030166992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 641 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16-18, 600/37, 623/3.11, 623/3.1, 623/14.13, 623/23.72, 623/904, 623/910, 623/922, 601/153, 601/11
• US Class Current: 600/37
• 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 passive device for treating a heart, the device comprising:

an elongate member configured to be disposed relative to the heart, the elongate member having a first end portion, a second end portion, and a region between the first end portion and the second end portion,

wherein at least one of the first end portion and the second end portion is configured to anchor the elongate member in place relative to the heart, and

wherein, at least during systole, the region between the first end portion and the second end portion is configured to passively compress cardiac structure associated with a heart chamber such that all portions of the heart chamber remain in direct fluid communication when the elongate member is disposed relative to the heart.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the region between the first end portion and the second end portion is configured to passively alter a shape of the cardiac structure.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the cardiac structure includes a wall surrounding a chamber of the heart.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the chamber is a left ventricle.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the elongate member further comprises a first end and a second end and an anchoring mechanism on each of the first end and the second end.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the region is configured to deflect cardiac structure at a location of the region toward an interior of the heart.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is configured to reduce a size of a left ventricle of the heart.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the first end portion and the second end portion are configured to anchor the elongate member in place relative to the heart.

9. A passive device for treating a heart, the device comprising:

an elongate member configured to be disposed relative to the heart, the elongate member having two opposite ends, a region between the ends, and an anchoring portion,

wherein the anchoring portion is configured to secure the elongate member in position relative to the heart, and

wherein, at least during systole, the region between the two opposite ends is configured to passively compress cardiac structure associated with a heart chamber such that all portions of the heart chamber remain in direct fluid communication when the elongate member is disposed relative to the heart.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising an additional anchoring portion configured to secure the elongate member in position relative to the heart.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the anchoring portion is disposed proximate one of the opposite ends and the additional anchoring portion is disposed proximate the other of the opposite ends.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the region between the ends is configured to passively alter a shape of the cardiac structure proximate the location of the region.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the cardiac structure includes a wall surrounding a chamber of the heart.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the chamber is a left ventricle.

15. The device of claim 9, wherein the region is configured to deflect cardiac structure at a location of the region toward an interior of the heart.

16. The device of claim 9, wherein the device is configured to reduce a size of a left ventricle of the heart.