Device for treatment of atrioventricular valve regurgitation

A catheter device, suitable for shrinking chordae tendineae of the human heart, having a proximal end for connection to a thermal energy source, a tubular body portion, and a distal end adapted for delivering thermal energy to a predetermined region of the chordae tendineae, which catheter device comprises:

• (a) a tubular sheath;
• (b) an energy conduit within the sheath and having a proximal end adapted for coupling to an energy source and a distal end portion adapted for delivering thermal energy to the predetermined region of the chordae tendineae;
• (c) a source of energy operably coupled to the proximal end of the energy conduit;
• and
• (d) a stabilizer device at or just proximal to the distal end of the sheath.

A catheter device, suitable for shrinking collagen in a patient's body tissue, having a proximal end for connection to a thermal energy source, a tubular body portion, and a distal end adapted for delivering thermal energy to the tissue, which catheter device comprises:

• (a) a hollow catheter defining a first lumen, having a closed distal end and a distal end portion defining an aperture in the first lumen;
• (b) an optical fiber within the first lumen of the catheter having a proximal end adapted for attachment to a laser source and a distal end portion situated within the distal end portion of the catheter, opposite the aperture;
• (c) an inflatable balloon affixed over the distal end portion of the catheter and covering the aperture therein;
• and
• (d) a hollow, cylindrical handpiece, affixed to the proximal end of the catheter and in open communication with the first lumen, said handpiece defining a port for delivery of an inflation medium to the balloon through the first lumen and aperture;
• wherein the distal end portion of the optical fiber is adapted to emit laser energy through the aperture in the distal end portion of the catheter;
• and the balloon has an asymmetric shape when inflated, the portion of the balloon facing the aperture being larger in radius than the portion of the balloon on the side opposite to the side of the catheter facing the aperture, such that the laser energy is directionally emitted through a relatively larger portion of the balloon.

A catheter device, suitable for shrinking the chordae tendineae of the human heart, having a proximal end for connection to a thermal energy source, a tubular body portion, and a distal end adapted for delivering thermal energy to the chordae tendineae, which catheter device comprises:

• (a) a tubular sheath having an opening at its distal end;
• (b) an energy conducting cable, slidably disposed within the sheath, having a proximal end adapted for attachment to an energy source and a distal end portion adapted for delivering thermal energy to a predetermined region of the chordae tendineae;
• and
• (c) a flexible metal rod slidably disposed within the sheath, having a permanently curved end portion and a blunt distal end.

A catheter device, suitable for shrinking the chordae tendineae of the human heart, having a proximal end for connection to a thermal energy source, a tubular body portion, and a distal end adapted for delivering thermal energy to the chordae tendineae, which catheter device comprises:

• (a) a tubular sheath defining at least a first lumen and a second lumen, each lumen having an opening at its distal end;
• (b) a fiber optic bundle, having a proximal end adapted for attachment to a source of laser energy, comprising a plurality of optical fibers, slidably disposed within the first lumen of the sheath;
• and
• (c) a flexible metal rod having a permanently curved end portion and a blunt distal end, slidably disposed within the second lumen of the sheath.

A catheter device, suitable for shrinking the chordae tendineae of the human heart, having a proximal end for connection to a thermal energy source, a tubular body portion, and a distal end adapted for delivering thermal energy to the chordae tendineae, which catheter device comprises:

• (a) a tubular sheath defining at least a first lumen and a second lumen, each lumen having an opening at its distal end;
• (b) a fiber optic bundle, having a proximal end adapted for attachment to a source of laser energy, comprising a plurality of optical fibers, slidably disposed within the first lumen, each fiber having a distal end portion comprising a flexible curved metal tube, coaxially disposed over and affixed to the end portion of the fiber, such that the distal end of each fiber terminates just proximal to the distal end of the tube;
• and
• (c) a flexible metal rod having a permanently curved end portion and a blunt distal end, slidably disposed within the second lumen of the sheath.