US 6,913,608 B2Granted

Automated annular plication for mitral valve repair

AssigneeViacor, Inc.

InventorsJohn R. Liddicoat, Gregory H. Lambrecht, Richard B. Streeter, Steven B. Woolfson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A novel system for performing a heart valve annuloplasty. The system involves the use of a plication band. In one embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by constriction of the plication band itself. More particularly, each plication band enters the tissue at two or more points which are spaced from one other by a distance which is dictated by the geometry of the plication band. Subsequent constriction of the plication band causes these points to move toward each other, thereby constricting the tissue trapped between these points and thus reducing the overall circumference of the valve annulus. In a second embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by linking multiple plication bands to one other, using a linkage construct, and then using a shortening of the length of the linkage construct between each plication band so as to gather the tissue between each plication band, whereby to reduce the overall circumference of the valve annulus.

Claims2

Dependent claims

Apparatus for effecting a desired geometric change in the annulus of a heart valve and limiting mitral leaflet prolapse, said apparatus comprising:

first and second plication bands, each said plication band comprising:
first and second substantially straight and parallel legs, each having a first end, the first ends of said first and second legs being adapted to pierce heart valve tissue;
and
a bridge having first and second ends, the first end of said bridge being connected to said first leg and the second end of said bridge being connected to said second leg, such that the first ends of said first and second legs are separated by a first distance;
said bridge being configured such that when the first ends of said first and second legs have pierced tissue at the first distance, said bridge is deformable so as to cause the first ends of said first and second legs to each move toward the other so as to thereafter be opposed to each other first end-to-first end with a distance of less than the first distance therebetween, whereby said first and second legs gather together pierced tissue to effect a contraction of the annulus of the heart valve;
and
an elongated linking strip having first and second ends and connected proximate the first end thereof to said first plication band and proximate the second end thereof to said second plication band, the linking strip being adapted to extend across the annulus of the heart valve and to draw the first and second plication bands toward each other.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/004,474Filed 23 Oct 2001 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Oct 2000
Published: US 2002/0042621 A118 Jul 2002
Granted: 5 Jul 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

A61F 2/2445
Annuloplasty rings or inserts for correcting the valve shape; Implants for improving the function of a native heart valve: annuloplasty rings in…
A61B 17/00234
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: for minimally invasive surgery
A61B 17/0401
For suturing wounds; Holders or packages for needles or suture materials: suture anchors, buttons or pledgets, i.e. means for attaching sutures to…
A61B 17/064
Surgical instruments, devices or methods: surgical staples, i.e. penetrating the tissue

Family

Application60/242,466Us provisional application · filed 23 Oct 2000
Application09/888,282Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Jun 2001
US 2002/0095167 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Jul 2002
US 6,702,826 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2002/0042621 A1Published application
US 6,913,608 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.