Method of attaching an apical cuff to heart tissue
AssigneeThe Regents of the University of Colorado, a body
InventorMax Bannister Mitchell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apical cuff axial compression assembly including a ring member for coupling an apical cuff of a Ventricular Assist Device pump, to left ventricular apical tissue. Tissue anchors are employed to engage with the ring member and the apical cuff to exert direct or axial compression of the ring member to the apical cuff and to the left ventricular apical tissue. A first variant includes an axial compression ring and a plurality of openings to accommodate the tissue anchors. A second variant includes a segmented axial compression ring composed of a plurality of arcuate members, which may be contiguous or joined to each other or not. Each of the plurality of arcuate members has at least one tissue anchor opening passing there through.
Claims22
A method of attaching an apical cuff to a heart, the apical cuff having an annular frame defining a central opening and an annular sewing skirt, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling at least one axial compression member to the apical cuff, the at least one axial compression member defining a central opening and having a plurality of tissue anchor openings passing axially through the at least one axial compression member, the at least one axial compression member configured to apply pressure to the annular sewing skirt, and the heart tissue;
- pre-driving a plurality of tissue anchors into each of the plurality of tissue anchor openings and partially into the annular sewing skirt;
- removably coupling the apical cuff, the at least one axial compression member, and the plurality of tissue anchors to a delivery tool, the delivery tool configured to allow each of the plurality of tissue anchors to be driven through the plurality of tissue anchor openings and apply an axially compressive force that is distributed substantially evenly about a circumference of the at least one axial compression member when the plurality of tissue anchors pass into and through the sewing skirt of the apical cuff and into the cardiac tissue.
A method of attaching an apical cuff to a heart, the apical cuff having an annular frame defining a central opening and an annular sewing skirt, the method comprising the steps of:
- coupling at least one axial compression member to the sewing ring such that the axial compression member bears against the sewing ring and not directly onto the apical cuff, the at least one axial compression member defining a central opening and having a plurality of tissue anchor openings passing axially through the at least one axial compression member, the at least one axial compression member configured to apply pressure to the annular sewing skirt, and the heart tissue;
- pre-driving a plurality of tissue anchors into each of the plurality of tissue anchor openings and partially into the annular sewing skirt;
- removably coupling the apical cuff, the at least one axial compression member, and the plurality of tissue anchors to a delivery tool, the delivery tool configured to allow each of the plurality of tissue anchors to be driven through the plurality of tissue anchor openings and apply an axially compressive force that is distributed substantially evenly about a circumference of the at least one axial compression member when the plurality of tissue anchors pass into and through the sewing skirt of the apical cuff and into the cardiac tissue.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.