Treatments for a patient with congestive heart failure

• US 7,534,260 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2005
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Transcardiac Therapeutics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Transcardiac Therapeutics Incorporated
• Inventors: Lattouf, Omar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): GHERBI, SUZETTE JAIME J
• Application Number:
  US11/285,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20060100698A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,274 Days
• Field of Search: 607 7- 9, 623 21- 212, 128/898
• US Class Current: 623/2.11
• 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 17/0401 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 17/0644 penetrating the tissue, deformable to closed position
• 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 17/0682 for applying U-shaped staples or clamps, e.g. without a forming anvil
• 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 17/29 Forceps for use in minimally invasive surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3421 Cannulas
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 17/3423 Access ports, e.g. toroid shape introducers for instruments or hands access sites for liquids A61M39/0247
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00243 cardiac
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00247 Making holes in the wall of the heart, e.g. laser Myocardial revascularization
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00398 using powered actuators, e.g. stepper motors, solenoids
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00539 hydraulically
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00557 inflatable A61B2017/22051 takes precedence
• 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: A61B 2017/22068 : Centering
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/22069 : Immobilising; Stabilising
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/306 : holding by means of suction
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/320064 : with tissue or sample retaining means
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3425 : for internal organs, e.g. heart ports
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/3488 : Fixation to inner organ or inner body tissue
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2018/00392 : Transmyocardial revascularisation
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/06 : Blood vessels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2/24 : Heart valves ; Vascular valves, e.g. venous valves; Heart implants, e.g. passive devices for improving the function of the native valve or the heart muscle; Transmyocardial revascularisation [TMR] devices; Valves implantable in the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/056 : Transvascular endocardial electrode systems
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0573 : chacterised by means penetrating the heart tissue, e.g. helix needle or hook
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 1/0587 : Epicardial electrode systems; Endocardial electrodes piercing the pericardium
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/0578 : having means for removal or extraction
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2001/058 : Fixing tools
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 623/904 : Heart

Abstract

The invention is directed to a minimally invasive therapeutic procedure, particularly for patients with congestive heart failure, and devices and systems for such procedures. this procedure involves providing a valved passageway through the patient'"'"'s left ventricular wall at the apex of the patient'"'"'s heart and advancing instruments through the valved passageway to connect the valve leaflets of the patient'"'"'s heart valve, e.g. the mitral valve, in a “Bow-Tie” configuration to prevent or minimize regurgitation through the valve. Improved devices for this procedure include a minimally invasive grasping device having an inner lumen for advancing connecting members and other instruments through the device to the distal end thereof. Other improved instruments include a leaflet connector with an artificial cordae tendenae strand secured to an end of the leaflet connector.

Improved devices for these procedures include a minimally invasive grasping device having an inner lumen for advancing connecting members and other instruments through the device to the distal end thereof. Other improved devices include a pacing lead implant instrument which is releasably secured by its distal end to the exposed heart wall to facilitate penetration of the pacing lead electrode into the heart wall. Other improved instruments include a leaflet connector with an artificial cordae tendenae strand secured to an end of the leaflet connector.

Claims

1. A minimally invasive system for treating a patient'"'"'s heart, comprising:

a. a valve body which is configured to be secured within a passageway formed through a wall of the patient'"'"'s heart which defines in part a heart chamber and which has a valve element within the valve body which allows passage of an instrument through the valve element into a chamber of the patient'"'"'s heart defined in part by the heart wall without significant blood loss through the valve element;

b. a tissue grasping device which is configured to extend through the valve element within the valve body secured within the passageway in the patient'"'"'s heart wall and which has at least two grasping members configured to grasp valve leaflets; and

c. a tissue connecting member to connect free edges of valve leaflets.

2. The minimally invasive system of claim 1 wherein the grasping members of the grasping device are configured to grasp free edges of valve leaflets with free edges disposed together to facilitate securing the free edges together with the connecting member.

3. The minimally invasive system of claim 1 including a stabilizing member for engaging valve leaflets and holding the leaflets in a grasping location.

4. The minimally invasive system of claim 3 wherein the stabilizing member is a balloon catheter.

5. The minimally invasive system of claim 4 wherein the balloon catheter has an inflatable balloon on a distal portion thereof.

6. The minimally invasive system of claim 5 wherein the balloon is formed of compliant or semi-compliant polymeric materials.