Cardiac valve leaflet attachment device and methods thereof

• US 6,926,715 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2003
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Evalve, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Evalve, Inc. (Abbott Laboratories Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lichtenstein, Samuel Victor, Hauck, Wallace Neil, Tu, Hosheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Roy D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ROANE, AARON F
• Application Number:
  US10/457,757
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: 606/41, 606/45, 606/47, 606 49- 52, 606/205
• US Class Current: 606/41
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1442 Probes having pivoting end effectors, e.g. forceps
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/1492 having a flexible, catheter-like structure, e.g. for heart ablation A61B18/1477 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00566 fixation of form upon application of vacuum
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00357 Endocardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00619 Welding

Abstract

A medical device system comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, the guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion percutaneously into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve, the leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through the guide catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets, wherein the fastening applicator comprises a pair of grasping-electrodes adapted for holding and engaging the portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together and for applying energy to fasten the portions, in which valve leaflets can be captured and securely fastened, thereby improving coaptation of the leaflets and improving competence of the valve.

Claims

1. A device system for treating a valvular annulus comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, said guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve and comprising a non-ablative energy means for shrinking at least a portion of the valvular annulus, said leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through said guide catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets, wherein said fastening applicator comprises a pair of grasping-electrodes adapted for holding and engaging said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together and for applying radiofrequency energy to fasten said portions, wherein a first of said grasping-electrodes comprises a plurality of spikes and a second of said grasping-electrodes comprises a plurality of recesses configured to receivably match and engage the spikes of said first grasping-electrode, wherein said catheter comprises at least a gripper inside the catheter, said gripper having a suitable opening sized and configured for applying vacuum suction to releasably grip one of said heart valve leaflets.

2. The device system of claim 1, wherein the non-ablative energy means comprises radiofrequency energy.

3. The device system of claim 1, wherein the non-ablative energy means comprises ultrasound energy.

4. The device system of claim 1, wherein the non-ablative energy means comprises laser energy.

5. The device system of claim 1, wherein the non-ablative energy means comprises electromagnetic energy.

6. The device system of claim 1, wherein the non-ablative energy means comprises microwave energy.

7. The device system of claim 1, wherein the guide catheter further comprises a lumen for solution injection.

8. The device system of claim 7, wherein the solution for injection is selected from a group consisting of heparin, aspirin, saline, antibiotic solution, anti-inflammatory solution, and anti-septic solution.