Apparatus and methods for valve removal

• US 6,939,359 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2003
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Medtronic 3F Therapeutics, Inc. (Medtronic Plc)
• Original Assignee: 3F Therapeutics Incorporated (Medtronic Plc)
• Inventors: Tu, Hosheng, Quijano, Rodolfo C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dawson, Glenn K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Davis, D. Jacob
• Application Number:
  US10/375,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20030216764A1
• Time in Patent Office: 923 Days
• Field of Search: 606/14, 606/37, 606/159, 606/170
• US Class Current: 606/159
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22031 Gripping instruments, e.g. forceps, for removing or smashing calculi A61B17/221 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/221 Gripping devices in the form of loops or baskets for gripping calculi or similar types of obstructions surgical snare instruments A61B17/32056
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/30 Surgical pincettes without pivotal connectionsfor holding suture needles or materials A61B17/0483; wound clamps A61B17/08 ; hand-held gripping tools without pivotal connections in general B25B9/02
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/320016 Endoscopic cutting instruments, e.g. arthroscopes, resectoscopes A61B10/0233, A61B17/29, A61B17/3207 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 18/245 for removing obstructions in blood vessels or calculi
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00345 Micromachines, nanomachines, microsystems
• 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 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/2215 having an open distal end
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/2238 with means for selectively laterally deflecting the tip of the fibre

Abstract

This invention discloses a medical catheter and methods for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally. The method may comprise inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve; deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet; deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and removing said defective valve from the patient.

Claims

1. A medical catheter for removing a defective valve from a patient comprising:

an elongate catheter shaft having a catheter distal end, a catheter distal section, a catheter proximal end, and at least a lumen between said catheter distal end and said catheter proximal end;

a deployable inner catheter located within one of said at least a lumen;

a coupling mechanism located at the catheter distal section configured to grip and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet of the defective valve; and

an expandable and retractable cutting mechanism mounted at a distal end of the deployable inner catheter, wherein the cutting mechanism expands in diameter when the cutting member is positioned outside the catheter and retracts in diameter when positioned inside the catheter, and the cutting member is configured to cut and separate a valve base of said defective valve from a valve root of said defective valve.

2. The medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a stapling element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said stapling element.

3. The medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gripping element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gripping element.

4. The medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gluing element configured to glue and bond a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gluing element.

5. The medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a sharp-edge element, and wherein a radiofrequency source is coupled to said sharp-edge element adapted for enhancing separation of the valve base of said defective valve.

6. The medical catheter according to claim 1, wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a fiber optic laser element, and wherein a laser energy source is coupled to said fiber optic laser element adapted for separating the valve base of said defective valve.