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
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims21
1-18. (canceled)
A belt for placement along the atrioventricular groove of the heart, comprising:
- a mesh tube comprising one or more strands of a heat-settable material wound to form interstices along the length of the mesh tube, the mesh tube having a central portion extending between a first tapered end and a second tapered end, and a lumen passing through the tube from the first tapered end to the second tapered end, and wherein the mesh tube is heat set to form a flat ribbon shape along a central portion of the mesh tube, having a flat surface for contact against the av groove of the heart.
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 comprising one or more strands of a heat-settable material wound to form interstices along the length of the mesh tube, the mesh tube having a central portion extending between a first tapered end and a second tapered end, and a lumen passing through the tube from the first tapered end to the second tapered end, wherein the mesh tube is heat set to form a flat ribbon shape along a central portion of the mesh tube, the mesh tube having a biocompatible filament fixed to the tube near the first tapered end extending through the lumen and the second tapered end and engaging a locking mechanism secured to the first tapered end;
- pulling the biocompatible filament through the locking mechanism, wherein said pulling 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.