Minimally-invasive annuloplasty repair segment delivery system
First Claim
1. A minimally-invasive system for delivering a flexible annuloplasty repair segment to a patient'"'"'s heart annulus, comprising:
- a handle;
an elongated template connected to and forming a distal extension of the handle, the template being adapted to assume a generally linear shape for passage through a delivery tube and being convertible from the generally linear shape to a changed shape along its length that conforms to a corrective shape of at least a segment of an interior wall of the patient'"'"'s heart annulus; and
an elongated flexible annuloplasty repair segment secured along a length of the template and having sufficient flexibility to conform to both the generally linear shape and the changed shape of the template.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An annuloplasty repair segment and template for heart valve annulus repair. The elongate flexible template may form a distal part of a holder that also has a proximal handle. Alternatively, the template may be releasably attached to a mandrel that slides within a delivery sheath, the template being released from the end of the sheath to enable manipulation by a surgeon. A tether connecting the template and mandrel may also be provided. The template may be elastic, temperature responsive, or multiple linked segments. The template may be aligned with the handle and form a two- or three-dimensional curve out of alignment with the handle such that the annuloplasty repair segment attached thereto conforms to the curve. The template may be actively or passively converted between its straight and curved positions. The combined holder and ring is especially suited for minimally-invasive surgeries in which the combination is delivered to an implantation site through a small access incision with or without a cannula, or through a catheter passed though the patient'"'"'s vasculature.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A minimally-invasive system for delivering a flexible annuloplasty repair segment to a patient'"'"'s heart annulus, comprising:
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a handle; an elongated template connected to and forming a distal extension of the handle, the template being adapted to assume a generally linear shape for passage through a delivery tube and being convertible from the generally linear shape to a changed shape along its length that conforms to a corrective shape of at least a segment of an interior wall of the patient'"'"'s heart annulus; and an elongated flexible annuloplasty repair segment secured along a length of the template and having sufficient flexibility to conform to both the generally linear shape and the changed shape of the template. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A minimally-invasive system for delivering a flexible annuloplasty repair segment to a patient'"'"'s heart annulus, comprising:
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an elongated template; and an elongated flexible annuloplasty repair segment secured along a length of the template and covered with a biocompatible fabric to allow the repair segment to be sutured to the heart annulus, the combined template and annuloplasty repair segment being convertible from an elongated shape having a maximum cross-sectional dimension of between 5-10 mm for passage through a delivery tube to a changed shape that would not pass through the delivery tube. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A minimally-invasive system for delivering a flexible annuloplasty repair segment to a patient'"'"'s heart annulus, comprising:
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a flexible elongated template convertible from a generally linear shape for passage through a delivery tube to a curved shape along its length that conforms to a corrective shape of at least a segment of an interior wall of the patient'"'"'s heart annulus; an elongated flexible annuloplasty repair segment secured along a length of the template; and means for securing the entire length of the annuloplasty repair segment along the template such that the annuloplasty repair segment closely conforms to the template, the segment having sufficient flexibility to assume both the generally linear shape and the curved shape. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification