Heart valve chordae replacement methods and apparatus
First Claim
1. Apparatus for attaching a tether between a leaflet of a patient'"'"'s heart valve and another portion of the patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
- an elongated shaft structure insertable into the patient'"'"'s heart from outside of the patient'"'"'s body, the shaft structure including first and second jaw surfaces near a distal end of the shaft structure that are movable relative to one another to admit tissue of the leaflet between the jaw surfaces and to releasably clamp the tissue between the jaw surfaces;
a handle attached to a proximal portion of the shaft structure and configured to remain outside the patient'"'"'s body at all times, the handle including an actuator for controlling motion of the jaw surfaces relative to one another, and a display for indicating where the tissue is between the jaw surfaces, the display being integrated into the handle;
a sensor for detecting tissue between the jaw surfaces, the sensor including at least one pin that extends axially along an interior of the shaft structure from the handle to an aperture in the first jaw surface, the at least one pin having a free end, an extended condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by at least a minimum distance, and a recessed condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by less than the minimum distance; and
circuitry operable to detect whether the at least one pin has reached the extended condition and to indicate a result of the detection on the display.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for attaching a prosthetic tether between a leaflet of a patient'"'"'s heart valve and another portion of the patient'"'"'s heart to help prevent prolapse of the leaflet and/or to otherwise improve leaflet function. The apparatus can be used with relatively low invasiveness of the patient'"'"'s body. The apparatus releasably clamps the leaflet during attachment of the tether to the leaflet. The apparatus may include an integrated display for indicating how extensively the leaflet is being clamped. The apparatus may include structure for stabilizing the leaflet for better clamping. The apparatus may enter the heart through an aperture in the wall of the heart, and may include structure for helping to reduce blood leakage from that aperture. The apparatus may be able to enter the heart by following a guide wire. The apparatus may include various means for attaching the tether to the leaflet.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. Apparatus for attaching a tether between a leaflet of a patient'"'"'s heart valve and another portion of the patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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an elongated shaft structure insertable into the patient'"'"'s heart from outside of the patient'"'"'s body, the shaft structure including first and second jaw surfaces near a distal end of the shaft structure that are movable relative to one another to admit tissue of the leaflet between the jaw surfaces and to releasably clamp the tissue between the jaw surfaces; a handle attached to a proximal portion of the shaft structure and configured to remain outside the patient'"'"'s body at all times, the handle including an actuator for controlling motion of the jaw surfaces relative to one another, and a display for indicating where the tissue is between the jaw surfaces, the display being integrated into the handle; a sensor for detecting tissue between the jaw surfaces, the sensor including at least one pin that extends axially along an interior of the shaft structure from the handle to an aperture in the first jaw surface, the at least one pin having a free end, an extended condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by at least a minimum distance, and a recessed condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by less than the minimum distance; and circuitry operable to detect whether the at least one pin has reached the extended condition and to indicate a result of the detection on the display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Apparatus for attaching a tether between a leaflet of a patient'"'"'s heart valve and another portion of the patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:
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an elongated shaft structure insertable into the patient'"'"'s heart from outside the patient'"'"'s body, the shaft structure including first and second jaw surfaces near a distal end of the shaft structure that are movable relative to one another to admit tissue of the leaflet between the jaw surfaces and to releasably clamp the tissue between the jaw surfaces; a handle attached to a proximal portion of the shaft structure and configured to remain outside the patient'"'"'s body at all times, the handle including an actuator for controlling motion of the jaw surfaces relative to one another, and a display integrated into the handle; a sensor for detecting tissue between the jaw surfaces, the sensor including at least one pin that extends axially along an interior of the shaft structure from the handle to an aperture in the first jaw surface, the at least one pin having a free end, an extended condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by at least a minimum distance, and a recessed condition in which the free end extends from the first jaw surface by less than the minimum distance; circuitry operable to detect whether the at least one pin has reached the extended condition; and means for coupling the sensor to the display so that the display can display results of the detection.
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Specification