Devices and methods for cardiac annulus stabilization and treatment

• US 7,753,922 B2
• Filed: 09/04/2003
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ancora Heart, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Guided Delivery Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Starksen, Niel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Manahan; Todd E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOWE, KATHERINE MARIE
• Application Number:
  US10/656,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20050055087A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,504 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606142-144, 606/151, 606/216, 606/219, 227/175.1, 227/176.1, 227/26, 227/30, 227/63, 227/181.1, 623/2.11, 623/2.38, 623/2.39, 623/2.4, 623/2.41
• US Class Current: 606/144
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2451 Inserts in the coronary sinus for correcting the valve shape
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor

Abstract

Devices and methods generally provide enhanced stabilization, exposure and/or treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve introducing a stabilizing member beneath one or more leaflets of a heart valve to engage the annulus at an intersection between the leaflets and the interior ventricular wall of the heart. Force is then applied to the stabilizing member to stabilize and/or expose the valve annulus. In some embodiments, the stabilizing member may include a series of hydraulically driven tethered anchors, such as hooks or clips, for engaging and cinching valve annulus tissue to decrease the diameter of a regurgitant valve. Alternatively, other treatments may be delivered by a stabilizing member, such as radiofrequency energy, drugs, bulking agents or shape memory stents. A second stabilizing member may also be introduced above the leaflets for further stabilization.

Claims

1. A device for performing a procedure on annular tissue of a heart comprising:

an elongate body having a proximal end and a distal end and a housing at the distal end of the elongate body;

at least one anchor and a tether coupled to the at least one anchor through an eyelet of the anchor

a pivot mandrel releasably coupling the at least one tethered anchor to the housing through the eyelet, wherein the at least one anchor is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the pivot mandrel while the at least one anchor is releasably coupled to the pivot mandrel; and

a balloon, wherein expansion of the balloon causes the at least one tethered anchor to rotate about the longitudinal axis of the pivot mandrel to deliver the at least one tethered anchor to the annular tissue.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the elongate body comprises a rigid shaft.

3. A device as in claim 1, wherein the anchor is selected from the group consisting of a curved hook, straight barbed hook, clip, T-shaped fastener, helical fastener, and ring.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the at least one anchor comprises a curved hook.