# US 2014/0155989 A1 · Synthetic Chord > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0155989 A1 - Document ID: US20140155989A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/895,015 - Filed: 2013-05-15 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2009-01-14 - Assignees: LC Therapeutics, Inc. - Inventors: James Longoria - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140155989A1 ## CPC - A61F 2/2463: {Implants forming part of the valve leaflets} - A61B 17/0401: {Suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to bone, cartilage or soft tissue; Instruments for applying or removing suture anchors (A61B17/0642 takes precedence; fixation devices for tendons or ligaments A61F2/0811)} - A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)} - A61F 2/2457: {Chordae tendineae prostheses} - A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac} - A61B 2017/00783: {Valvuloplasty} - A61B 2017/00862: {elastic or resilient} - A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect} - A61B 2017/0406: {Pledgets} - A61B 2017/0427: {having anchoring barbs or pins extending outwardly from the anchor body} - A61B 2017/048: {for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity} - A61B 2017/06057: {Double-armed sutures, i.e. sutures having a needle attached to each end} - A61F 2250/0064: Sets comprising a plurality of prosthetic parts of different sizes - 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 Synthetic chord devices and methods for using the same for connecting tissues are provided. Aspects of the synthetic chord device include a flexible cord having an attachment element at both a first and a second end, wherein each attachment element includes a piercing member coupled to a securing member that attaches the flexible cord to a first tissue. At least a portion of the flexible cord can be configured to be secured to a second tissue. Aspects of the invention also include sets of the synthetic chord device with pre-measured flexible cords. The devices and methods of the invention find use in a variety of applications, such as in is applications in which it is desired to repair a heart valve. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-42. (canceled) ### Claim 43 A synthetic chord device comprising: (a) a flexible cord; (b) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member; and (c) a reinforcing element. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the securing member is a self-closing fastener. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the securing member comprises a shape memory material. ### Claim 46 (depends on 45) The synthetic chord device according to claim 45, wherein the shape memory material comprises a nickel alloy. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The synthetic chord device according to claim 46, wherein the nickel alloy is a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The synthetic chord device according to claim 46, wherein the nickel alloy is a nickel-cobalt alloy. ### Claim 49 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the securing device comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 50 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the tissue piercing member comprises a needle. ### Claim 51 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the securing member and tissue piercing member are separated from each other by a flexible member. ### Claim 52 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the reinforcing element is a pledget. ### Claim 53 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the flexible cord comprises expanded PTFE. ### Claim 54 (depends on 43) The synthetic chord device according to claim 43, wherein the flexible cord has a length ranging from 8 mm to 60 mm. ### Claim 55 A method for connecting a first tissue to a second tissue, the method comprising: (a) providing a synthetic chord device comprising: (i) a flexible cord; (ii) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member; and (iii) a reinforcing element; (b) passing the tissue piercing member through the second tissue in a manner sufficient to contact to the reinforcing element to the second tissue; (c) passing the tissue piercing member through the first tissue; and (d) deploying the securing element to connect the first tissue to the second tissue. ### Claim 56 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, further comprising: (a) determining a desired length of the flexible cord by measuring a desired distance between the first tissue and the second tissue; and (b) selecting a synthetic chord device having a flexible cord with the desired length from a set of two or more synthetic chord devices. ### Claim 57 (depends on 56) The method according to claim 56, wherein the securing member is a self-closing fastener. ### Claim 58 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the securing member comprises a shape memory material. ### Claim 59 (depends on 58) The method according to claim 58, wherein the shape memory material comprises a nickel alloy. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The method according to claim 59, wherein the nickel alloy comprises a nickel-titanium alloy. ### Claim 61 (depends on 59) The method according to claim 59, wherein the nickel alloy comprises a nickel-cobalt alloy. ### Claim 62 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the securing member comprises stainless steel. ### Claim 63 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the tissue piercing member comprises a needle. ### Claim 64 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the securing member and piercing member are separated from each other by a flexible member. ### Claim 65 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the reinforcing element is a pledget. ### Claim 66 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the flexible cord comprises expanded PTFE. ### Claim 67 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein said flexible cord has a length ranging from 8 mm to 60 mm. ### Claim 68 (depends on 55) The method according to claim 55, wherein the first tissue is a cardiac valve leaflet and the second tissue is a papillary muscle. ### Claim 69 A kit comprising: a set of two or more synthetic chord devices, each device of said set comprising: (a) a flexible cord; (b) an attachment element comprising a tissue piercing member and a securing member; and (c) a reinforcing element ### Claim 70 (depends on 69) The kit according to claim 69, wherein the set of two or more synthetic chord devices comprises synthetic chord devices wherein at least two of the flexible cords are of different lengths. ### Claim 71 (depends on 69) The kit according to claim 69, further comprising a measuring tool.