Method and apparatus for circulatory valve repair

• US 7,464,712 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 12/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Original Assignee: Trustees Of Columbia University In The City Of New York (Columbia University)
• Inventors: Levin, Howard R., Allen, William, Oz, Mehmet C., Lemole, Gerald M., Umana, Juan P., Lotvin, Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo; Julian W
• Application Number:
  US10/833,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20040199183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,693 Days
• Field of Search: 606/139, 606/151, 606/153, 606/159, 606/213, 606/215, 606/216, 128/898, 623/2.1, 623/2.11, 623/2.12, 623/2.13, 604/256
• US Class Current: 128/898
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/064 Surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/0686 having a forming anvil staying below the tissue during stapling
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/08 Wound clamps or clips, i.e. not or only partly penetrating the tissue suture bridges A61B17/0466; Devices for bringing together the edges of a wound
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/10 for applying or removing wound clamps, e.g. containing only one clamp or staple A61B17/076 takes precedence; containing multiple wound clamps A61B17/068; Wound clamp magazines containers, packaging elements or packages specially adapted for particular articles or with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00, B65D85/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/122 Clamps or clips , e.g. for the umbilical cord for the vas deferens A61F6/206
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/1285 for minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/0649 Coils or spirals
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/2427 Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation

Abstract

An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.

Claims

1. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) grasping two leaflets of a cardiac valve, wherein the patient'"'"'s heart is not stopped; and

(b) fastening the leaflets together in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the patient suffers from insufficiency and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.

3. A method as in claim 1, wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.

4. A method as in claim 1, wherein grasping comprises immobilizing the leaflets.

5. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, said method comprising:

(a) immobilizing two leaflets, wherein the patient'"'"'s heart is not stopped; and

(b) fastening the leaflets together in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.

7. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, wherein the patient'"'"'s heart is not stopped, said method comprising:

(a) grasping two leaflets in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency;

(b) assessing the correctness of the grasping to ensure that the regurgitation or insufficiency is resolved; and

(c) fastening the leaflets together in the position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.

8. A method as in claim 7, further comprising releasing the two leaflets.

9. A method as in claim 8, further comprising re-grasping the leaflets in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.

10. A method as in claim 7, further comprising adjusting the position of the leaflets to a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency once the leaflets are grasped.

11. A method as in claim 7, wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.

12. A method as in claim 7, wherein the step of assessing is performed using echocardiography.

13. A method as in claim 7, wherein the step of assessing is performed using Doppler.

14. A method as in claim 7, wherein the step of assessing is performed using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).