Adjustable annuloplasty ring with subcutaneous activation port
First Claim
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1. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
- an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy;
a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising;
a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and
a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes,wherein the subcutaneous connector comprises an in-line connector such that the first plurality of electrodes comprise electrically conductive bands arranged along an axis of the subcutaneous activation cable to form a male connector; and
a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising;
a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable;
a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; and
a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector,wherein the first interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a first aperture providing access to a first channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives the male in-line connector of the subcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the first plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port,wherein the second interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a second aperture providing access to a second channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives a male in-line connector of the transcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the second plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port,wherein the first aperture of the first interface and the second aperture of the second interface are located on opposing sides of the subcutaneous port, andwherein an axis of the first channel is in a first plane, an axis of the second channel is in a second plane, and the first plane is parallel to the second plane.
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Abstract
Annuloplasty rings are employed to treat heart valve defects, such as regurgitation. Synching the heart tissue to the ring restores the valve opening to its approximate original size and operating efficiency. Adjustable annuloplasty rings allow for a proper degree of synching both during open heart surgery and over the patient'"'"'s lifetime. A subcutaneous port may be coupled to an adjustable annuloplasty ring such that an external activation energy generator can be used to heat the adjustable annuloplasty ring and thereby adjust the size of the annuloplasty ring.
46 Citations
42 Claims
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1. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
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an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy; a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising; a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes, wherein the subcutaneous connector comprises an in-line connector such that the first plurality of electrodes comprise electrically conductive bands arranged along an axis of the subcutaneous activation cable to form a male connector; and a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising; a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable; a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector, wherein the first interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a first aperture providing access to a first channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives the male in-line connector of the subcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the first plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port, wherein the second interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a second aperture providing access to a second channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives a male in-line connector of the transcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the second plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port, wherein the first aperture of the first interface and the second aperture of the second interface are located on opposing sides of the subcutaneous port, and wherein an axis of the first channel is in a first plane, an axis of the second channel is in a second plane, and the first plane is parallel to the second plane. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
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an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy; a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising; a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes, wherein the subcutaneous connector comprises an in-line connector such that the first plurality of electrodes comprise electrically conductive bands arranged along an axis of the subcutaneous activation cable to form a male connector; and a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising; a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable; a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector, wherein the first interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a first aperture providing access to a first channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives the male in-line connector of the subcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the first plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port, wherein the second interface of the subcutaneous port comprises a second aperture providing access to a second channel within the subcutaneous port to form a female connector that receives a male in-line connector of the transcutaneous connector and establishes an electrical connection between the second plurality of electrodes and respective ones of the plurality of electrical interconnections of the subcutaneous port, wherein an axis of the first channel is at an angle with respect to an axis of the second channel such that implanting the subcutaneous port within the subcutaneous tissue of the patient with the axis of the first channel pointing substantially parallel to a surface of the patient'"'"'s skin results in the axis of the second channel pointing, at an angle with respect to the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin, toward the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin to thereby provide access to the second aperture through a trocar or needle from the surface of the patient'"'"'s skin. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
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an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy; a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising; a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes; and a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising; a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable; a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector; and a heating element coiled around at least a portion of the body member comprising the shape memory material, wherein the activation energy comprises radio frequency (RF) energy, and wherein the heating element generates thermal energy in response to receiving the RF energy through the subcutaneous activation cable, wherein the heating element comprises a variable density coil that transfers thermal energy to the body member at a higher rate in areas corresponding to relatively higher coil densities. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
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an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy; a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising; a coaxial cable comprising an inner coil and an outer coil separated from one another by an insulator; a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes; and a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising; a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable; a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An annuloplasty ring assembly, comprising:
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an adjustable annuloplasty ring including a body member comprising shape memory material to change a dimension of the adjustable annuloplasty ring in response to application of an activation energy; a subcutaneous activation cable to provide the activation energy to the shape memory material of the adjustable annuloplasty ring, the subcutaneous activation cable comprising; a first end coupled to the adjustable annuloplasty ring; and a second end comprising a subcutaneous connector including a first plurality of electrodes; a resistive element with a resistive value selected to uniquely identify at least one of the adjustable annuloplasty ring and the subcutaneous activation cable; and a subcutaneous port implantable in subcutaneous tissue within a patient, the subcutaneous port comprising; a first interface to receive the subcutaneous connector of the subcutaneous activation cable; a second interface to receive a transcutaneous connector inserted through the patient'"'"'s skin, the transcutaneous connector providing the activation energy to the subcutaneous port through a second plurality of electrodes; and a plurality of electrical interconnections to establish electrical communication between the first plurality of electrodes of the subcutaneous connector and respective ones of the second plurality of electrodes of the transcutaneous connector. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification