Tissue anchor for annuloplasty device

• US 9,011,520 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Issued: 04/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtech Cardio Ltd (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Valtech Cardio Ltd (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Eran, Cabiri, Oz
• Primary Examiner(s): STEWART, JASON-DENNIS NEILKEN
• Application Number:
  US13/504,870
• Publication Number:
  US 20120283757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,636 Days
• Field of Search: 623 21- 219, 623 235- 241
• US Class Current: 623/2.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0401 Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/068 Surgical staplers , e.g. containing multiple staples or clampsstaplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105; for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; staplers in general B25C5/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0427 having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0448 Additional elements on or within the anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0647 having one single leg, e.g. tacks
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2409 Support rings therefor, e.g. for connecting valves to tissue annuloplasty rings A61F2/2442
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2445 Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor

Abstract

Apparatus for use with an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the apparatus including: a tissue anchor including: a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient, and a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor. The proximal implant-receiving element includes an implant-restraining element coupled to a portion of the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the implant-receiving element. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. Apparatus for use with an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a tissue anchor comprising;

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and

a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-receiving element comprising;

an implant-restraining element coupled to a portion of the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element comprising a barb configured to restrict proximal movement of the implant along the implant-receiving element, the barb comprising one or more arms that are radially expandable to rest against an external surface of the implant following coupling of the implant to the implant-receiving element.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the restraining element comprises a protrusion configured to protrude into a plane of the implant and to couple the implant to the tissue anchor.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the protrusion is shaped so as to define a distal shelf that has a transverse cross-sectional length that is larger than a transverse cross-sectional length of the implant-receiving element, the distal shelf being configured to facilitate restricting of proximal motion of the implant along the protrusion.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the arms are radially collapsible during at least a portion of the coupling of the implant to the implant-receiving element.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the proximal implant-receiving element comprises an elastic portion that is configured to assume a first length when relaxed, and a second, greater length when under load.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the elastic portion comprises a tension spring.

7. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the proximal implant-receiving element has a length of between 3 and 5 mm when the elastic portion is relaxed.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distal tissue coupling element is shaped so as to define a shape selected from the group consisting of:

a helix, a spiral, and a screw shaft.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distal tissue coupling element is shaped so as to define one or more radially-expandable prongs, the prongs being configured to expand and facilitate anchoring of the coupling element and restrict proximal motion of the tissue anchor.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising the implant, wherein the implant-receiving element is configured to couple the implant to the anchor.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the implant comprises a tissue-repair implant.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the implant-restraining element is configured to pass through a portion of the implant.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distal tissue coupling element and the proximal implant-receiving element comprise respective elements that are coupled to one another.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the distal tissue coupling element and the proximal implant-receiving element are fabricated from a single piece.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the implant-restraining element is coupled to a proximal portion of the implant-receiving element.

16. Apparatus for use with an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the apparatus comprising:

a tissue anchor comprising;

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and

a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-receiving element comprising;

a post having a length of between 1 and 7 mm and a greatest cross-sectional area of between 0.03 mm^2 and 0.2 mm^2, which length is at least 4 times a square root of the greatest cross-sectional area of the post; and

an implant-restraining element coupled to the post of the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the implant-receiving element; and

a cord removably couplable to the tissue anchor, the cord being configured to facilitate passage of the implant therealong and toward the tissue anchor.

17. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the cord passes through a portion of the implant-receiving element.

18. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the length of the post is at least 5 times the square root of the greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

19. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the length of the post is at least 8 times the square root of the greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

20. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the length of the post is at least 10 times the square root of the greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

21. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the length of the post is at least 15 times the square root of the greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

22. The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the implant-restraining element is coupled to the post within 2 mm of a proximal end of the post.

23. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the implant-restraining element is shaped so as to define an opening therethrough, through which the cord is configured to pass.

24. The apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the implant-restraining element has a greatest cross-sectional area that is at least 1.5 times the greatest cross-sectional area of the post.

25. The apparatus according to claim 24, further comprising a lock configured to be advanced toward the anchor and disposed between the implant and the implant-restraining element, the lock comprising:

a distal portion configured to rest against the implant; and

an expandable proximal portion having a cross-sectional area during a resting state of the lock that is larger than the greatest cross-sectional area of the post and smaller than the greatest cross-sectional area of the implant-restraining element.

26. Apparatus, comprising:

an implant configured to be coupled to cardiac tissue of a patient, the implant comprising;

a spool coupled to the implant; and

a flexible contracting member that is coupled to the spool and the sleeve, such that winding the contracting member around the spool tightens the contracting member; and

a tissue anchor comprising;

a distal tissue coupling element configured to couple the tissue anchor to the cardiac tissue of the patient; and

a proximal implant-receiving element configured to receive at least a portion of the implant and facilitate coupling of the implant to the tissue anchor, the proximal implant-receiving element comprising;

an implant-restraining element coupled to a portion of the implant-receiving element, the implant-restraining element being configured to restrain the implant from separating from the implant-receiving element.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the implant comprises an annuloplasty device.