Implantation of repair chords in the heart

• US 9,277,994 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Issued: 03/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Valtech Cardio Ltd (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Valtech Cardio Ltd (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Miller, Eran, Cabiri, Oz, Gross, Yossi, Gross, Amir, Reich, Tal
• Primary Examiner(s): Bui, Vy
• Application Number:
  US13/319,007
• Publication Number:
  US 20140094903A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,135 Days
• Field of Search: 623/2.11, 623/23.72, 606/191, 606/194, 606/195, 606/198
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0409 Instruments for applying suture anchors for applying suture clamps, clips or locks A61B2017/0488
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0414 having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening lateral eyelet for attaching suture to needle A61B2017/06019
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0441 the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/12095 Threaded connection
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2457 Chordae tendineae prostheses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2466 Delivery devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints

Abstract

Apparatus is provided, including first and second longitudinal members coupled at respective first portions thereof to tissue surrounding the ventricle. The first portion of at least the first longitudinal member is coupled to a tissue anchor, and respective second portions of the first and second longitudinal members are coupled to respective first and second leaflets of a cardiac valve. The longitudinal members are arranged with respect to the tissue anchor and the portion of tissue surrounding the ventricle in a manner which facilitates adjustment of a degree of tension of the first and second longitudinal members to draw the first and second leaflets together. A longitudinal-member-coupling device is coupled to the first and second longitudinal members, and is advanceable toward a ventricular surface of the first and second leaflets, and responsively to draw together the first and second longitudinal members. Other applications are also described.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

implanting a first longitudinal repair member in a ventricle of a heart of a patient, by coupling a first portion of the first longitudinal repair member to a first leaflet of a valve of the heart of the patient and by coupling a second portion of the first longitudinal repair member to tissue surrounding the ventricle;

implanting a second longitudinal repair member in the ventricle of the heart of the patient, by coupling a first portion of the second longitudinal repair member to a second leaflet of the valve of the heart of the patient and by coupling a second portion of the second longitudinal repair member to tissue surrounding the ventricle; and

advancing, toward a ventricular surface of the valve, a longitudinal-member-coupling device that is coupled to the first and second longitudinal members between the first and second portions of the respective first and second longitudinal members, and by the advancing drawing together the first and second leaflets in a middle portion of the valve.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein advancing comprises, by the advancing, creating first and second openings in the valve on either side of the middle portion for blood flow through the openings.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises adjusting a degree of tension of the first and second longitudinal members to adjust a degree of coupling between the first and second leaflets.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein adjusting the degree of tension comprises adjusting the degree of tension of the first and second longitudinal members using at least one longitudinal-member-adjusting mechanism coupled to respective second portions of the first and second longitudinal members.