Methods and devices for heart valve treatments

• US 7,291,168 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2003
• Issued: 11/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: MVRx, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ample Medical, Inc. (MVRx, Inc.)
• Inventors: Machold, Timothy R., Rahdert, David A., Chang, Robert T., Macoviak, John A., Soss, Rick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US10/695,433
• Publication Number:
  US 20040138745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,470 Days
• Field of Search: 623 236- 238, 606/151
• US Class Current: 623/2.36
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/22012 in direct contact with, or very close to, the obstruction or concrement for removing obstructions in blood vessels by laser A61B18/245
• 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 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22097 Valve removal in veins
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320052 Guides for cutting instruments by marking A61B2090/395
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/00 Instruments, implements or accessories specially adapted for surgery or diagnosis and not covered by any of the groups A61B1/00 - A61B50/00, e.g. for luxation treatment or for protecting wound edges protective face masks A41D13/11; surgeon's or patient's gowns or dresses A41D13/12; devices for carrying-off, for treatment of, or for carrying-over, body liquids A61M1/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/50 Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms
• 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 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2454 Means for preventing inversion of the valve leaflets, e.g. chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 Heart

Abstract

The present invention is a group of medical devices designed to improve heart valve function. The medical devices may be used individually, or in combination to supplement damaged valves, replace damaged valves, or improve damaged valves function. The medical devices include leaflet retainers, a neo-annulus, neo-leaflet, and a framework. In addition, the present invention is novel methods for surgically treating heart valves.

Claims

1. A method comprising

providing a heart implant sized and configured to be positioned in a left atrium above the plane of a native mitral heart valve annulus having leaflets, the implant including a portion sized and configured for engagement with a wall of the left atrium above the plane of the native mitral valve annulus to interact with movement of the leaflets of the mitral heart valve to affect mitral heart valve function,

establishing an intravascular access path that extends from a right atrium through a septum and into a left atrium,

deploying the implant through the intravascular path into the left atrium, and

positioning the implant in the left atrium with the portion engaging a wall of the left atrium above the plane of the native mitral valve annulus such that the portion interacts with movement of the leaflets of the mitral heart valve to affect mitral heart valve function.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the implant is positioned so that the portion spans the left atrium.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the implant is positioned so that the portion changes the shape of the native mitral heart valve annulus.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heart implant comprises, at least in part, nitinol, dacron, polytetrafluoroethylene, silicon, polyurethane, human pericardium, or animal pericardium.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein the heart implant comprises, at least in part, a super elastic material.