Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method

• US 6,629,921 B1
• Filed: 10/27/2000
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Myocor, Inc. (Edwards Lifesciences Corporation)
• Inventors: Vidlund, Robert M., Keith, Peter T., Mortier, Todd J., Schweich, Cyril J. Jr., Paulson, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jastrzab, Jeffrey R.
• Application Number:
  US09/697,711
• Time in Patent Office: 1,075 Days
• Field of Search: 600/16-18, 600/37, 601/11, 623/3.1, 623/14.13, 623/23.72, 623/904, 623/910, 623/922, 128/897, 128/898
• US Class Current: 600/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00234 for minimally invasive surgery A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/00491 Surgical glue applicators surgical adhesives A61L24/00; two-component delivery syringes A61M5/19
• 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 17/0487 Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/06166 Sutures suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1227 Spring clips
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0404 Buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0417 T-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0435 the barbs being separate elements mechanically linked to the anchor, e.g. by pivots
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0445 cannulated, e.g. with a longitudinal through-hole for passage of an instrument
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0446 Means for attaching and blocking the suture in the suture anchor
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0454 the anchor being crimped or clamped on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0458 Longitudinal through hole, e.g. suture blocked by a distal suture knot
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0461 with features cooperating with special features on the suture, e.g. protrusions on the suture
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0464 for soft tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/048 for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0496 for tensioning sutures
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2481 Devices outside the heart wall, e.g. bags, strips or bands
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2487 : Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints

Abstract

An apparatus for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the wall tension therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other. Methods for placing the apparatus on the heart are also provided.

Claims

1. A method of placing an elongate member transverse a left ventricle of a heart the method comprising:

placing the elongate member transverse the left ventricle so that a first end of the elongate member extends through a first wall of the left ventricle adjacent a papillary muscle in the left ventricle, and a second end of the elongate member extends through a second heart wall; and

attaching an anchoring device to the elongate member external the heart to maintain a position of the elongate member transverse the left ventricle.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate member extends through the first wall between a left anterior descending artery and a postero-medial papillary muscle.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right, ventricle.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the elongate member extends through a septal wall of the heart.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle adjacent a posterior descending artery.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate member extends through the first wall adjacent an antero-lateral papillary muscle and closer to an antero-lateral papillary muscle than to a postero-medial papillary muscle.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle proximate a posterior descending artery.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the elongate member extends through a septal wall of the heart.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate member extends through the first wall between a left anterior descending artery and an obtuse marginal artery.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle adjacent a posterior descending artery.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the elongate member extends through a septal wall of the heart.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongate member extends through the first wall between a left anterior descending artery and an antero-lateral papillary muscle.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of the heart adjacent a posterior descending artery.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate member extends through a septal wall of the heart.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the second heart wall is a wall of a right ventricle of the heart.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein attaching the anchoring device to the elongate member includes placing a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member external the heart, the first and second anchoring members being attached respectively to the first and second ends of the elongate member.

19. A method of placing a device on a heart, comprising:

placing the device in a position on a left ventricle so that the device contacts a first wall of the left ventricle between a left anterior descending artery and a papillary muscle and so that the device contacts a second heart wall opposite the first wall; and

anchoring the device external the heart to maintain the position of the device on the left ventricle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the device includes an elongate member, and further comprising placing the elongate member transverse the left ventricle.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein anchoring the device includes attaching an anchoring device to the elongate member.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein a first end of the elongate member extends through the first wall between the left anterior descending artery and a postero-medial papillary muscle.