Implant and method for improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve
AssigneeAvvie GmbH
InventorWerner Mohl
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An implant for improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve in which the atrioventricular valve has a first native leaflet, a second native leaflet and an annulus includes a support structure configured to be arranged on and fixed to the annulus or to at least one of the first and second native first leaflets. The implant also includes flexible retention structure mounted to the support structure so as to prevent prolapse of the at least one of the first and second native leaflets. A method for improving coaptation of such an atrioventricular valve is also disclosed.
Claims9
A method of improving coaptation of an atrioventricular valve, the atrioventricular valve having an annulus, a first native leaflet and a second native leaflet, the method comprising:
- providing an implant comprising a support structure and a retention means fixed to the support structure, wherein the support structure comprises an upper support element and a lower support element, the implant being arranged in a tubular housing with the upper support element and the lower support element being in a folded state, said tubular housing comprising a first and a second half-shell, wherein the first half-shell houses the upper support element and the second half-shell houses the lower support element,
- advancing the tubular housing into a heart,
- swinging open the first and second half-shells,
- advancing the tubular housing with the implant so that the first or the second native leaflet is arranged between the first and the second half-shells,
- unfolding the upper support element and the lower support element,
- fixing the upper support element and the lower support element relative to the annulus or to the first or the second native leaflet, said fixing step comprising interconnecting a connection means of the upper support element and a connection means of the lower support element thereby clamping a section of the annulus or the first or the second native leaflet between the upper support element and the lower support element, wherein one of the connection means of the upper support element and the connection means of the lower support element comprises a penetrating section that penetrates the annulus or the first or the second native leaflet when being connected with the other of the connection means of the upper support element and the connection means of the lower support element,
- positioning the retention means so as to prevent prolapse of the first or the second native leaflet, and
- withdrawing the tubular housing from the heart.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.