Heart valve implant

#The present disclosure relates to the repair and/or correction of dysfunctional heart valves, and more particularly pertains to heart valve implants and systems and methods for delivery and implementation of the same.

#A human heart has four chambers, the left and right atrium and the left and right ventricles. The chambers of the heart alternately expand and contract to pump blood through the vessels of the body. The cycle of the heart includes the simultaneous contraction of the left and right atria, passing blood from the atria to the left and right ventricles. The left and right ventricles then simultaneously contract forcing blood from the heart and through the vessels of the body. In addition to the four chambers, the heart also includes a check valve at the upstream end of each chamber to ensure that blood flows in the correct direction through the body as the heart chambers expand and contract. These valves may become damaged, or otherwise fail to function properly, resulting in their inability to properly close when the downstream chamber contracts. Failure of the valves to properly close may allow blood to flow backward through the valve resulting in decreased blood flow and lower blood pressure.

#Mitral regurgitation is a common variety of heart valve dysfunction or insufficiency. Mitral regurgitation occurs when the mitral valve separating the left coronary atrium and the left ventricle fails to properly close. As a result, upon contraction of the left ventricle blood may leak or flow from the left ventricle back into the left atrium, rather than being forced through the aorta. Any disorder that weakens or damages the mitral valve can prevent it from closing properly, thereby causing leakage or regurgitation. Mitral regurgitation is considered to be chronic when the condition persists rather than occurring for only a short period of time.

#Features and advantage of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description of embodiments consistent therewith, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a mitral valve implant consistent with the present disclosure;

#FIG. 2 depicts an embodiment mitral valve implant consistent with the present disclosure implanted within a heart in an open position;

#The present disclosure relates to a heart valve implant. A heart valve implant herein may suitably be used in connection with the treatment and/or correction of a dysfunctional or inoperative heart valve. One suitable implementation for a heart valve implant consistent with the present disclosure is the treatment of mitral valve regurgitation. For the ease of explanation, the heart valve implant herein is described in terms of a mitral valve implant, such as may be used in treating mitral valve regurgitation. However, a heart valve implant consistent with the present disclosure may be employed for treating and/or correcting other dysfunctional or inoperative heart valves. The present disclosure should not, therefore, be construed as being limited to use as a mitral valve implant.

#Generally, a heart valve implant consistent with the present invention may interact with at least a portion of an existing heart valve to prevent and/or reduce regurgitation. For example, at least a portion of one or more cusps of the heart valve may interact with, engage, and/or seal against at least a portion of the heart valve implant when the heart valve is in a closed condition. The interaction, engagement and/or sealing between at least a portion of at least one cusp and at least a portion of the heart valve implant may reduce and/or eliminate regurgitation in a heart valve, for example, providing insufficient sealing, including only a single cusp, e.g., following removal of a diseased and/or damaged cusp, and/or having a ruptured cordae. A heart valve implant consistent with the present disclosure may be used in connection with various additional and/or alternative defects and/or deficiencies.

#Referring to FIG. 1, a perspective view of an embodiment of a mitral valve implant 10 is depicted. In general, the mitral valve implant 10 may be capable of increasing the sealing and/or closure of the passage between the left ventricle and the left atrium during contraction of the left ventricle relative to damaged and/or leaking native valve. Accordingly, in some embodiments the mitral valve implant 10 may be capable of operating in combination with a partially operable and/or damaged mitral valve. That is, the mitral valve implant may interact and/or cooperate with at least a portion of the native mitral valve to reduce and/or eliminate excessive regurgitation. As shown, mitral valve implant may generally include a valve body portion 12 which may be coupled to a shaft 14. The shaft 14 may be coupled to an anchor portion 16.