# US 2025/0366994 A1 · Myocardial implant load sharing device and methods to promote lv function

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- Number: US 2025/0366994 A1
- Document ID: US20250366994A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 19/297,926
- Filed: 2025-08-12
- Published: 2025-12-04
- Earliest claimed: 2016-11-18
- Assignees: Ancora Heart, Inc.
- Applicants: Ancora Heart, Inc.
- Inventors: Russel SAMPSON; Jennifer HENDERSON; Jeff CLOSS; Joshua SAMPSON; Charles J. ADAM
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20250366994A1

## CPC

- A61F 2/2487: {Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints}
- 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 17/0487: {Suture clamps, clips or locks, e.g. for replacing suture knots; Instruments for applying or removing suture clamps, clips or locks (suture anchors A61B17/0401; wound clamps or clips A61B17/08; ligaturing clamps or clips A61B17/122)}
- A61B 17/06166: {Sutures (suture materials A61L17/00; manufacture of artificial threads D01D; treatment of threads D06M)}
- A61F 2/2436: {Deployment by retracting a sheath}
- A61B 2017/00004: {(bio)absorbable, (bio)resorbable or resorptive}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61B 2017/00783: {Valvuloplasty}
- A61B 2017/00867: {shape memory effect}
- A61B 2017/00893: {pharmaceutically effective}
- A61B 2017/0409: {Instruments for applying suture anchors}
- A61B 2017/0414: {having a suture-receiving opening, e.g. lateral opening}
- A61B 2017/0437: {the barbs being resilient or spring-like}
- A61B 2017/0448: {Additional elements on or within the anchor}
- A61B 2017/0464: {for soft tissue}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B 2017/06176: {with protrusions, e.g. barbs}
- A61F 2/2445: {Annuloplasty rings in direct contact with the valve annulus}
- A61F 2/2466: {Delivery devices therefor}
- A61F 2210/0004: bioabsorbable
- A61F 2210/0014: using shape memory or superelastic materials, e.g. nitinol
- A61F 2220/0016: with sharp anchoring protrusions, e.g. barbs, pins, spikes
- 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

The devices and methods described herein may be used to restore left ventricular function to address mitral valve regurgitation. One variation of an implant comprises a plurality of tethered anchors and a plurality of force-distribution members slidably disposed on the tether between the anchors. One or more of the force-distribution members can comprise a bioabsorbable material. Methods comprise deploying the implant to cardiac tissue, cinching the implant to its hard stop (e.g., where further cinching does not cause further tissue tightening), providing a pre-selected amount of slack to the implant after it has been cinched to its hard stop configuration, and securing a lock member on the tether. Also disclosed herein are lock member deployment catheters that provide a pre-selected amount of tether slack as it secures a lock member on the tether.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for reshaping a heart ventricle comprising:
implanting a device in an uncinched configuration into ventricular free wall tissue of a heart ventricle at a target implant site such that the device subtends at least a portion of the ventricular free wall, the heart ventricle having a first end diastolic diameter at the target implant site;
cinching the device to a cinched configuration to reduce the first end diastolic diameter to a second, smaller end diastolic diameter; and
reverse-remodeling the heart ventricle to improve one or more indices of cardiac function.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a plurality of tethered anchors and force-distribution members located between the anchors in an alternating pattern.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising locking the device to a hard stop configuration using a lock member at a terminal end of the device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein when the device is in the hard stop configuration, the tethered anchors and force-distribution members contact each other.

### Claim 5 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein locking the lock member comprises engaging the lock member on the device at the pre-selected length away from a proximal-most anchor of the device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein the pre-selected length is from about 5 mm to about 15 mm.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the pre-selected length is about 9.5 mm.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the pre-selected length provides a gap from about 2.0 mm to about 3.5 mm between at least two of the plurality of force-distribution members.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the pre-selected length provides a gap of about 2.5 mm between at least two of the plurality of force-distribution members.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the ventricular free wall tissue is in a subvalvular region of the heart.

### Claim 11

A method for reshaping a heart ventricle comprising:
implanting a device in an uncinched configuration into ventricular free wall tissue of a heart ventricle at a target implant site such that the device subtends at least a portion of the ventricular free wall, the heart ventricle having a first end diastolic diameter at the target implant site;
cinching the device to a cinched configuration to reduce the first end diastolic diameter to a second, smaller end diastolic diameter; and
reverse-remodeling the heart ventricle over a period of time to improve one or more indices of cardiac function.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the period of time is at least one month, at least three months, or at least six months.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the device comprises a plurality of tethered anchors and force-distribution members located between the anchors in an alternating pattern.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method of claim 13 further comprising locking the device to a hard stop configuration using a lock member at a terminal end of the device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein when the device is in the hard stop configuration, the tethered anchors and force-distribution members contact each other.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein locking the lock member comprises engaging the lock member on the device at the pre-selected length away from a proximal-most anchor of the device.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the pre-selected length is from about 5 mm to about 15 mm.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The method of claim 17, wherein the pre-selected length is about 9.5 mm.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The method of claim 16, wherein the pre-selected length provides a gap from about 2.0 mm to about 3.5 mm between at least two of the plurality of force-distribution members.

### Claim 20 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, wherein the ventricular free wall tissue is in a subvalvular region of the heart.