Device for supporting a surgical step in a vessel, particularly for removal and implantation of heart valves

• US 7,115,141 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2001
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
• Original Assignee: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Universitätsklinikum Freiburg
• Inventors: Menz, Wolfgang, Schoth, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Milano, Michael J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ho, Tan-Uyen (Jackie) T.
• Application Number:
  US09/971,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20020128702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,820 Days
• Field of Search: 623 11- 153, 623/900, 606191-195, 606/200, 606/108, 606/1
• US Class Current: 623/1.12
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3468 for implanting or removing devices, e.g. prostheses, implants, seeds, wires devices for implanting seeds A61M37/0069
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0641 having at least three legs as part of one single body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• 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 2/2436 Deployment by retracting a sheath
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/844 folded prior to deployment
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/92 Stents in the form of a rolled-up sheet expanding after insertion into the vessel , e.g. with a spiral shape in cross-section
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2002/8483 Barbs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0008 Fixation appliances for connecting prostheses to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2220/0016 with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/006 modular

Abstract

A device is disclosed for assisting surgical operations inside a vessel, particularly for the minimally invasive explantation and implantation of cardiac valves, comprising an operating structure adapted to be implanted within the vessel, that is adapted to be fixedly and detachably joined to the inner wall of the vessel and is provided with at least one connector and/or support structure for a further instrument required for the surgical operation.

Claims

1. A device for assisting surgical operations inside a vessel, including minimally invasive explanation and implantation of cardiac valves, comprising:

an operating structure which is implanted within the vessel, which is fixedly and detachably joined to an inner wall of the vessel and is provided with at least one connector and/or support structure for a further instrument required for the surgical operation; and

wherein

the operating structure unfolds or uncoils and assumes a shape of a cylinder in an unfolded or uncoiled condition, the cylinder having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the vessel, the operating structure is configured as a coiled sheet element presenting two edges extending in parallel with an axis of the cylinder, and a respective lock seam or fold is formed on the two edges so that opposing lock seams are mutually engaged and contribute to a dimensionally stable cylinder shape of the operating structure.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating structure comprises a windable sheet or an extensible mesh.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating structure is a shape-memory metal.

4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating structure has an outer surface facing the inner wall of the vessel, on which anchoring elements are provided for being anchored in the surface of the vessel.

5. A device according to claim 4, wherein the anchoring elements are arranged at an angle α

different than 90°

from the surface of the operating structure so that the operating structure is displaceable in a preferred direction inside the vessel but not in an opposite direction thereof.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein the operating structure has an inside surface on which the connector and/or support structure is provided.

7. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connector and/or support structure is a cut-out in a wall of the cylinder, as a recess or a knop.

8. A device according to claim 1, wherein the connector structure is a plug-in or bayonet-catch connector for fixing or connecting thereon further surgical instruments or for connecting at least one further operating structure.

9. A device according to claim 1, wherein in a folded or coiled condition, the operating structure is inserted into a sleeve-type or hollow catheter for carrying the operating structure into a vicinity of a vesicular site to be treated.

10. A device according to claim 9, wherein a ram-like pusher device is provided for ejecting the operating structure from a sleeve-type or hollow catheter, which the ram-like pusher device carries the operating structure out of the catheter into the vessel.

11. A device according to claim 1 wherein the operating structure has an outer surface facing the inner wall of the vessel, on which anchoring elements are provided for being anchored in the surface of the vessel.

12. A device according to claim 11, wherein the anchoring elements are barbs.

13. A device according to claim 11, wherein the anchoring elements are arranged at an angle α

different than 90°

from the surface of the operating structure so that the operating structure is displaceable in a preferred direction inside the vessel but not in an opposite direction thereof.

14. A device according to claim 11, wherein the operating structure is configured as coiled sheet element presenting two edges extending in parallel with an axis of the cylinder;

and

a respective lock seam or fold is formed on edges so that opposing lock seams are mutually engaged and contribute to a dimensionally stable cylinder shape of the operating structure.

15. A device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one connector and/or support structure is a cut-out in a wall of the cylinder as a recess or a knop.