Devices and methods for heart valve treatment
First Claim
1. A method for improving heart valve function, the method comprising:
- providing a device comprising at least one expandable protrusion; and
positioning the expandable protrusion in contact with an external surface of the heart wall such that the protrusion exerts an inward force against the heart wall proximate a valve, wherein the force is sufficient to alter valve function and draw leaflets of the valve together, and wherein the valve leaflets define a line of coaptation and positioning the expandable protrusion includes positioning the expandable protrusion such that the inward force is exerted substantially orthogonal to the line of coaptation.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Devices and methods for improving the function of a valve (e.g., mitral valve) by positioning a spacing filling device outside and adjacent the heart wall such that the device applies an inward force against the heart wall acting on the valve. A substantially equal and opposite force may be provided by securing the device to the heart wall, and/or a substantially equal and opposite outward force may be applied against anatomical structure outside the heart wall. The inward force is sufficient to change the function of the valve, and may increase coaptation of the leaflets, for example. The space filling device may be implanted by a surgical approach, a transthoracic approach, or a transluminal approach, for example. The space filling portion may be delivered utilizing a delivery catheter navigated via the selected approach, and the space filling portion may be expandable between a smaller delivery configuration and a larger deployed configuration.
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Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method for improving heart valve function, the method comprising:
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providing a device comprising at least one expandable protrusion; and positioning the expandable protrusion in contact with an external surface of the heart wall such that the protrusion exerts an inward force against the heart wall proximate a valve, wherein the force is sufficient to alter valve function and draw leaflets of the valve together, and wherein the valve leaflets define a line of coaptation and positioning the expandable protrusion includes positioning the expandable protrusion such that the inward force is exerted substantially orthogonal to the line of coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for improving heart valve function, the method comprising:
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providing a device having at least one protrusion; and positioning the device relative to the heart such that the at least one protrusion is in contact with an external surface of a heart wall and exerts an inward force against the heart wall proximate the valve and such that the device exerts a force substantially opposite to the inward force against an anatomical structure outside the heart wall, wherein the inward force is sufficient to draw leaflets of the valve together, and wherein the valve leaflets define a line of coaptation and positioning the protrusion includes positioning the protrusion such that the inward force is exerted substantially orthogonal to the line of coaptation. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A method for treating a heart valve, comprising
providing a passive external heart device having a balloon and an elongate base; -
positioning the external heart device adjacent the heart valve; securing the external heart device to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s heart; and adjusting a size of the balloon to apply a force on the heart valve, throughout a cardiac cycle, wherein positioning the external heart device adjacent the heart valve includes positioning the external heart device adjacent an atrioventricular groove. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method of adjusting heart valve function, comprising:
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providing a passive external heart device having a chamber and an elongate base; positioning the external heart device adjacent the heart valve and proximate an atrioventricular groove; securing the external heart device to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s heart, such that the chamber is disposed between a heart wall and the elongate base; adjusting a size of the chamber to apply a force on the heart wall, throughout a cardiac cycle; and monitoring an effect of the external heart device on the heart valve.
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38. A method for improving heart valve function, the method comprising:
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providing a device comprising at least one expandable protrusion; positioning the expandable protrusion in contact with an external surface of the heart wall such that the protrusion exerts an inward force against the heart wall proximate a valve, wherein the force is sufficient to alter valve function; and positioning the device outside an epicardium of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A method for improving heart valve function, the method comprising:
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providing a device having at least one protrusion; positioning the device relative to the heart such that the at least one protrusion is in contact with an external surface of a heart wall and exerts an inward force against the heart wall proximate the valve and such that the device exerts a force substantially opposite to the inward force against an anatomical structure outside the heart wall; and positioning the device outside an epicardium of the heart. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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46. A method for treating a heart valve, comprising
providing a passive external heart device having a balloon and an elongate base; -
positioning the external heart device adjacent the heart valve; securing the external heart device to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s heart; adjusting a size of the balloon to apply a force on the heart valve, throughout a cardiac cycle; and positioning the external heart device between an external heart wall and a pericardium.
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47. A method for treating a heart valve, comprising
providing a passive external heart device having a balloon and an elongate base; -
positioning the external heart device adjacent the heart valve; securing the external heart device to an external surface of a patient'"'"'s heart; and adjusting a size of the balloon to apply a force on the heart valve, throughout a cardiac cycle, wherein securing the external heart device to an external surface of the patient'"'"'s heart includes piercing an external wall of the patient'"'"'s heart.
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Specification