Methods for treating cardiac valves with adjustable implants

• US 7,713,298 B2
• Filed: 05/06/2005
• Issued: 05/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MiCardia Corporation
• Original Assignee: MiCardia Corporation
• Inventors: Shaolian, Sanuel M., Moaddeb, Shahram, Shaoulian, Emanuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews; William H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ganesan; Suba
• Application Number:
  US11/124,364
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,831 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.36, 623/2.37, 623/2.38, 623/2.39, 623/2.4, 623/2.41, 623 21- 219
• US Class Current: 623/2.37
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2448 D-shaped rings
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0014 using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2210/0023 operated at different temperatures whilst inside or touching the human body, heated or cooled by external energy source or cold supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0001 Means for transferring electromagnetic energy to implants
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0004 adjustable
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2250/0082 specially designed for children, e.g. having means for adjusting to their growth

Abstract

Methods and devices are provided for support of a body structure. The devices can be adjusted within the body of a patient in a minimally invasive or non-invasive manner such as by applying energy percutaneously or external to the patient'"'"'s body. The energy may include, for example, acoustic energy, radio frequency energy, light energy and magnetic energy. Thus, as the body structure changes size and/or shape, the size and/or shape of the annuloplasty rings can be adjusted to provide continued reinforcement. In certain embodiments, the devices include a shape memory material that is responsive to changes in temperature and/or exposure to a magnetic field. A material having enhanced absorption characteristics with regard to a desired heating energy may be used in order to facilitate heating and adjustment of the support device.

Claims

1. A method of treating a patient'"'"'s cardiac valve, said method comprising:

providing an annuloplasty implant controllably adjustable between a first configuration and a second configuration, said annuloplasty implant comprising;

a posterior portion;

an anterior portion; and

first and second lateral portions connecting said posterior and anterior portions, wherein a major axis intersects each of said first and second lateral portions and a minor axis, which is perpendicular to the major axis, intersects said posterior and anterior portions;

attaching said annuloplasty implant while in said first configuration to or near a valve annulus in a heart;

wherein said first lateral portion is attached to or near a first commissure of said valve annulus, said second lateral portion is attached to or near a second commissure of said valve annulus, said anterior portion is attached to or near an anterior leaflet of said valve annulus, and said posterior portion is attached to or near a posterior leaflet of said valve annulus; and

changing said annuloplasty implant from said first configuration to said second configuration by applying energy to said annuloplasty implant;

wherein a distance between said first and second lateral portions along said major axis is increased in transforming from said first to said second configuration such that said first and second commissures are pulled away from each other and wherein a distance between said posterior and anterior portions along said minor axis is decreased such that said posterior and anterior leaflets are drawn closer to one another to improve coaptation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said annuloplasty implant is substantially C-shaped, said annuloplasty implant having a first end and a second end.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein applying energy to said annuloplasty implant comprises heating a shape memory material of said annuloplasty implant to a predetermined temperature, wherein said shape memory material changes shape in response to being heated to said predetermined temperature.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said heating of said shape memory material comprises applying energy to an energy absorption enhancement material in thermal communication with said shape memory material.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said heating of said shape memory material comprises applying said energy to an electrically conductive material in thermal communication with said shape memory material, wherein said energy produces a current in said electrically conductive material.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein applying energy comprises non-invasively applying energy from outside the patient'"'"'s body to said annuloplasty implant located inside said patient'"'"'s body.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein applying said energy to said annuloplasty ring comprises generating a magnetic field outside said patient'"'"'s body, wherein said magnetic field is configured to change the shape of a shape memory material of said annuloplasty ring.