Tissue tensioning device for cardiac valve repair
AssigneeEvalve, Inc.
InventorMichael F. Wei
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present disclosure describes interventional devices, systems, and methods for closing a regurgitant gap in a cardiac valve. Interventional devices are configured to be deployed between two previously placed implants or between a previously placed implant and a valve commissure. The interventional devices compress captured leaflet tissue and/or apply a tensioning force along the line of coaptation to assist in closing the gap and reducing regurgitant flow through the gap.
Claims17
An interventional system for tensioning cardiac valve tissue at a targeted gap of a cardiac valve, the system comprising:
- an interventional tissue tensioning device, the tensioning device comprising:
- a distal section;
- a proximal section;
- an intermediate section disposed between and joining the distal section and the proximal section;
- and
- an elastomer film cover,
- wherein the intermediate section has a default width, the intermediate section being laterally compressible from the default width to a compressed width sized for fitting within the targeted gap, and
- wherein the intermediate section is configured to be biased toward the default width when compressed, the intermediate section thereby providing a tensioning force upon edges of the targeted gap;
- and
- a self-centering delivery catheter, the delivery catheter including a pair of laterally extending fins extending from a distal section of the delivery catheter, the fins enabling alignment of the delivery catheter with a line of coaptation at the targeted gap,
- wherein the fins are configured to be intra-procedurally adjustable in width, and
- wherein the distal section of the delivery catheter includes a pair of skives and a corresponding pair of wires laterally extendable through the skives to form the fins.
A method of reducing regurgitation through a cardiac valve by tensioning leaflet tissue at a targeted gap defined between two tissue clips grasping leaflets of the cardiac valve, the method comprising:
- delivering an interventional tissue tensioning device to the targeted gap with a self-centering delivery catheter,
- the self-centering delivery catheter comprising:
- a pair of laterally extending fins extending from a distal section of the delivery catheter, the fins enabling alignment of the delivery catheter with a line of coaptation at the targeted gap,
- wherein the fins are configured to be intra-procedurally adjustable in width, and
- wherein the distal section of the delivery catheter includes a pair of skives and a corresponding pair of wires laterally extendable through the skives to form the fins, and the tensioning device comprising:
- a distal section;
- a proximal section;
- and
- an intermediate section disposed between and joining the distal section and the proximal section,
- wherein the intermediate section has a default width, the intermediate section being laterally compressible from the default width to a compressed width sized for fitting within the targeted gap, and
- disposing the intermediate section between the two tissue clips, the intermediate section being biased toward the default width from the compressed width and thereby providing a tensioning force upon the two tissue clips;
- and
- deploying the tensioning device at the targeted gap to tension the leaflet tissue and reduce regurgitant flow through the targeted gap between the two tissue clips.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.