Apparatus, system, and method for treatment of posterior leaflet prolapse

• US 8,685,083 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Original Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
• Inventors: Perier, Patrick, Adzich, Vaso
• Primary Examiner(s): Isabella, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEVINE, JOSHUA H
• Application Number:
  US11/474,740
• Publication Number:
  US 20070123979A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,836 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.1, 623/2.36, 623/2.37, 623/2.41
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/02 for holding wounds open; Tractors specula A61B1/32 ; drainage appliances for wounds A61M27/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0469 Suturing instruments for use in minimally invasive surgery, e.g. endoscopic surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/06057 Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor

Abstract

The invention is an apparatus, system, and method for repairing heart valves. A suture line is secured to a papillary muscle, and then passed through a portion of a heart valve leaflet. A reference element is provided at a desired distance from a plane defined by the heart valve annulus. The suture line is secured to the heart valve leaflet at a position adjacent the reference element. The reference element may part of a device configured for placement on or in a heart valve annulus. The reference element may be slidingly secured to the device so that the distance of the reference element from the main body of the device can be varied by a surgeon or other user. The reference element may be a line of suture, which may be pre-installed during manufacture of the device or may be installed by the surgeon or other user.

Claims

1. An apparatus for repairing a heart valve, comprising:

a generally ring-shaped main body having a shape and size similar to, and configured to be placed on or in, a heart valve annulus, the generally ring-shaped body defining an annular opening therethrough and a generally horizontal reference plane therethrough, the generally ring-shaped body having a maximum width;

first and second vertical members extending downwardly from, and generally perpendicularly to, the generally horizontal reference plane of the generally ring-shaped body, wherein the first and second vertical members are secured to the generally ring-shaped body at or adjacent opposing sides of the annular opening; and

a generally horizontal reference element comprising a first end and a second end, wherein the generally horizontal reference element is generally parallel to the generally horizontal reference plane of the generally ring-shaped body, and wherein the generally horizontal reference element is positioned at a distance of 3 mm to 15 mm below the generally horizontal reference plane of the generally ring-shaped body, wherein the generally horizontal reference element has a length which is shorter than the maximum width of the generally ring-shaped main body, wherein the first end of the generally horizontal reference element is secured to the first vertical member, wherein the second end of the generally horizontal reference element is secured to the second vertical member, whereby the generally horizontal reference element defines a generally horizontal reference line extending in a straight line between the first vertical member and the second vertical member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first end of the generally horizontal reference element is secured to the first vertical member at a first distance from the support body reference plane, and the second end of the generally horizontal reference element is secured to the second vertical member at a second distance from the support body reference plane.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first distance is substantially equal to the second distance.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first distance is greater than the second distance.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first reference element is configured to fit between adjacent valve leaflets of a heart valve when the support body is placed on or in a heart valve annulus of the heart valve.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first reference element comprises a line of suture.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the apparatus is configured to provide variation in the first distance and in the second distance.

8. An apparatus for repairing a heart valve, comprising:

a generally ring-shaped support body, the support body defining a periphery, an annular opening, and a generally horizontal support member reference plane therethrough, wherein the generally ring-shaped support body is configured for placement on or in a heart valve annulus;

a first elongated member extending from the support body at a position adjacent a first end of the annular opening and in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the support member reference plane, wherein the first elongated member has a proximal end positioned at or above the generally ring-shaped body, the first elongated member has a distal end positioned at least 3 mm below the generally ring-shaped body, and wherein the first elongate body proximal and distal ends are both positioned inward of the periphery of the generally ring-shaped support body when the generally ring-shaped body is viewed from above; and

a second generally rigid elongated member extending from the support body at a position adjacent a second end of the annular opening and in a direction away from and generally perpendicular to the support member reference plane, wherein the second elongated member has a proximal end positioned at or above the generally ring-shaped body, the second elongated member has a distal end positioned at least 3 mm below the generally ring-shaped body, and wherein the second elongate body proximal and distal ends are both positioned inward of the periphery of the generally ring-shaped support body when the generally ring-shaped body is viewed from above, wherein the first end of the annular opening is an opposite end of the annular opening from the second end of the annular opening; and

wherein the first elongated member comprises a plurality of first suture attachment points, the first suture attachment points positioned at different positions along the length of the first elongated member and below the generally ring-shaped support body; and

wherein the second elongated member comprises a plurality of second suture attachment points, the second suture attachment points positioned at different positions along the length of the second elongated member and below the generally ring-shaped support body; and

wherein a first suture line passing from one of the first suture attachment points to one of the second suture attachment points, wherein the first suture line is drawn relatively tightly between the one of the first suture attachment points and the one of the second suture attachment points and defines a generally straight line between the one of the first suture attachment points and the one of the second suture attachment points.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

indicia indicating the distance from one or more of the first suture attachment points to the support member reference plane.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising:

indicia indicating the distance from one or more of the second suture attachment points to the support member reference plane.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein each of the first suture attachment points comprises a hole passing through the first elongated member.