# US 11,076,958 B2 · Annuloplasty ring delivery catheters > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,076,958 B2 - Document ID: US11076958B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/977,271 - Filed: 2018-05-11 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2009-05-04 - Assignees: Valtech Cardio, Ltd. - Applicants: Valtech Cardio, Ltd. - Inventors: Tal Sheps; Tal Hammer; Tal Reich; Amir Gross; Yuval Zipory; Oz Cabiri; Yosef Gross - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11076958B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/2466: {Delivery devices therefor} - A61B 17/068: Surgical staplers {, e.g. containing multiple staples or clamps}({staplers containing only one staple A61B17/10; magazines or containers for staples A61B17/105;} for performing anastomosis A61B17/115; {staplers in general B25C5/00}) - A61B 90/50: Supports for surgical instruments, e.g. articulated arms - A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac} - A61B 2017/00327: {with actuating members moving in opposite directions} - A61B 2017/0649: {Coils or spirals} - A61B 2017/0688: {Packages or dispensers for surgical staplers} - A61F 2/2445: {Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus} - A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes - A61F 2230/0013: Horseshoe-shaped, e.g. crescent-shaped, C-shaped, U-shaped - A61F 2250/0012: for adjusting elasticity, flexibility, spring rate or mechanical tension - A61F: FILTERS IMPLANTABLE INTO BLOOD VESSELS; PROSTHESES; DEVICES PROVIDING PATENCY TO, OR PREVENTING COLLAPSING OF, TUBULAR STRUCTURES OF THE BODY, e.g. STENTS; ORTHOPAEDIC, NURSING OR CONTRACEPTIVE DEVICES; FOMENTATION; TREATMENT OR PROTECTION OF EYES OR EARS; BANDAGES, DRESSINGS OR ABSORBENT PADS; FIRST-AID KITS (dental prosthetics A61C) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) ## Abstract Apparatus is provided for repairing a cardiac valve, the apparatus including a catheter sized for delivery through vasculature of a subject and an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure having an elongated lumen and an annuloplasty structure axis extending along the lumen. The annuloplasty structure is sized and configured for delivery to a heart of the subject through the catheter substantially along a catheter axis of the catheter while the annuloplasty structure axis is substantially parallel to the catheter axis. The apparatus also includes a plurality of anchors configured for delivery to a region of cardiac tissue from a proximal end of the catheter toward a distal end of the catheter and substantially along the annuloplasty structure axis and the catheter axis while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within a delivery passage of the catheter. Other embodiments are also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for repairing a cardiac valve, the system comprising: a catheter sized for delivery through vasculature of a subject, the catheter defining a delivery passage and having an elongated catheter axis extending therethrough; an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure having an elongated lumen and an annuloplasty structure axis extending along the lumen, wherein the annuloplasty structure is sized and configured for delivery to a heart of the subject through the catheter substantially along the catheter axis while the annuloplasty structure axis is substantially parallel to the catheter axis; and a plurality of anchors, configured for delivery, from a proximal end of the catheter toward the annuloplasty structure and the heart and substantially along the annuloplasty structure axis and the catheter axis while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within the delivery passage of the catheter. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an elongated and flexible anchor delivery channel sized and configured to extend within the annuloplasty structure lumen while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within the delivery passage of the catheter. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the channel is steerable. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, further comprising a first control mechanism and a second control mechanism, wherein the first and the second control mechanisms are configured to enable independent movement of the catheter and the anchor delivery channel, respectively. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein the anchor delivery channel is configured to be advanced with the annuloplasty structure during a period when the catheter is maintained in a substantially constant position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The system according to claim 4, wherein the first control mechanism and the second control mechanism are configured to enable incremental release of the annuloplasty structure from a distal end of the channel as the plurality of anchors are sequentially deployed from the anchor delivery channel. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of anchors are configured for location within the anchor delivery channel, a distal end of the anchor delivery channel is configured for location within the annuloplasty structure lumen, and the annuloplasty structure is configured for location within the delivery passage of the catheter. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the cardiac valve is a mitral valve. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, further comprising an elongated introducer shaft sized for delivery through the vasculature, the introducer shaft defining an introducer shaft lumen and having an elongated shaft axis extending therethrough, wherein the introducer shaft lumen is sized and configured to hold at least a portion of the catheter therein while the catheter axis is substantially parallel to the shaft axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, further comprising a catheter control mechanism and an introducer control mechanism configured to enable independent movement of the catheter and the introducer shaft. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system according to claim 9, further comprising a first locking mechanism located at a distal region of the catheter and a second locking mechanism located at a proximal region of the catheter, wherein the first and the second locking mechanisms are configured to inhibit rotation of the catheter. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system according to claim 11, wherein the first locking mechanism comprises a detent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system according to claim 12, wherein the first and the second locking mechanisms are configured to lock substantially simultaneously. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the annuloplasty structure comprises a sleeve that has a wall, the elongated lumen being an elongated lumen of the sleeve, and wherein the plurality of anchors are configured to penetrate and pass though material of the wall of the sleeve. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system according to claim 14, wherein each one of the plurality of anchors is deliverable through the elongated lumen of the sleeve and is configured to penetrate and pass through the material of the wall of the sleeve from within the elongated lumen of the sleeve. ### Claim 16 A method for repairing a cardiac valve, the method comprising: advancing a catheter through vasculature of a subject, the catheter defining a delivery passage and having an elongated catheter axis extending therethrough; delivering an elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure to a heart of the subject through the catheter substantially along the catheter axis while the annuloplasty structure axis is substantially parallel to the catheter axis, the elongated and flexible annuloplasty structure having an elongated lumen and an annuloplasty structure axis extending along the lumen; and anchoring the annuloplasty structure to cardiac tissue by delivering a plurality of anchors from a proximal end of the catheter, toward the annuloplasty structure and the heart and substantially along the annuloplasty structure axis and the catheter axis while at least a portion of the annuloplasty structure is within the delivery passage of the catheter. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the cardiac valve is a mitral valve. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The method according to claim 16, wherein the annuloplasty structure comprises a sleeve that has a wall, the elongated lumen being an elongated lumen of the sleeve, and wherein anchoring the annuloplasty structure to cardiac tissue comprises penetrating and passing each one of the plurality of tissue anchors though material of the wall of the sleeve. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein penetrating and passing each one of the plurality of tissue anchors comprises delivering the plurality of tissue anchors through the elongated lumen of the sleeve and penetrating and passing each one of the plurality of tissue anchors through the material of the wall of the sleeve from within the elongated lumen of the sleeve.