Belt for applying pressure to a bodily organ
AssigneeMuffin Incorporated
InventorsShaun Davis Gittard, John C. Sigmon, Jr., Gregory James Hardy, Jeremy T. Newkirk, Neal E. Fearnot, William J. Havel, Rita Hadley, Yun Zhou
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Among other things, there are disclosed embodiments of belts or bands that can be used in treatments for tricuspid valve regurgitation. In some embodiments, such belts may be heat-set in a particular configuration to effectively decrease tricuspid annulus when deployed around the atrioventricular groove. Embodiments include one or more tensioning sutures for applying cinching or tightening to belts when deployed, and structure for effectively distributing force during such tightening.
Claims20
A belt for placement along the atrioventricular groove of a heart, the belt comprising:
- a mesh tube having a first open end and a second open end and a lumen passing through the tube from the first open end to the second open end along a longitudinal axis of the tube, the tube configured longitudinally in a loop so as to be placed around the heart and along the atrioventricular groove;
- a first suture portion within the tube, the first suture portion fixed to the tube adjacent the first open end and extending through the lumen toward the second open end, the first suture portion connected to the tube within the lumen by a first plurality of holding elements so that the first suture portion is longitudinally movable through the first plurality of holding elements with respect to the tube;
- a second suture portion within the tube and parallel to and spaced from the first suture portion, the second suture portion fixed to the tube adjacent the first open end and extending through the lumen toward the second open end, the second suture portion connected to the tube within the lumen by a second plurality of holding elements so that the second suture portion is longitudinally movable through the second plurality of holding elements with respect to the tube;
- wherein pulling the first and second suture portions cinches the tube to reduce an area of the loop so that the tube compresses compress longitudinally in at least selected locations along the tube.
A belt for placement along the atrioventricular groove of a heart, the belt comprising:
- a mesh tube having a first open end and a second open end and a lumen passing through the tube from the first open end to the second open end along a longitudinal axis of the tube, the tube configured longitudinally in a loop so as to be placed around the heart and along the atrioventricular groove;
- a first suture portion within the tube, the first suture portion connected to the tube within the lumen by a first plurality of holding elements so that the first suture portion is longitudinally movable through the first plurality of holding elements with respect to the tube;
- a second suture portion within the tube and laterally spaced from the first suture portion, the second suture portion connected to the tube within the lumen by a second plurality of holding elements so that the second suture portion is longitudinally movable through the second plurality of holding elements with respect to the tube;
- wherein pulling the first and second suture portions cinches the tube to reduce an area of the loop so that the tube compress longitudinally in at least selected locations along the tube.
A method of placing a belt along the atrioventricular groove of a heart, the method comprising:
- positioning a mesh tube in the form of a loop around the heart and along the atrioventricular groove, the mesh tube having a first open end and a second open end and a lumen passing through the tube from the first open end to the second open end along a longitudinal axis of the tube;
- pulling a first suture portion within the tube so that the first suture portion moves longitudinally through a first plurality of holding elements connecting the first suture portion to the tube;
- pulling a second suture portion within the tube so that the second suture portion moves longitudinally through a second plurality of holding elements connecting the second suture portion to the tube;
- and
- wherein said pulling the first suture portion and said pulling the second suture portion cinches the tube to reduce an area of the loop and longitudinally compresses the tube in at least selected locations along the tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.