# US 8,540,620 B2 · Transventricular implant tools and devices

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- Number: US 8,540,620 B2
- Document ID: US8540620B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/185,461
- Filed: 2011-07-18
- Published: 2011-11-10
- Granted: 2013-09-24
- Earliest claimed: 1998-07-29
- Assignees: Edwards Lifesciences Corporation
- Applicants: Todd J. Mortier; Cyril J. Schweich, Jr.; Robert M. Vidlund; Peter T. Keith; Thomas M. Paulson; David A. Kusz
- Inventors: Todd J. Mortier; Cyril J. Schweich, Jr.; Robert M. Vidlund; Peter T. Keith; Thomas M. Paulson; David A. Kusz
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8540620B2

## CPC

- A61F 2/2487: {Devices within the heart chamber, e.g. splints}
- A61B 17/00234: {for minimally invasive surgery (A61B17/0218, A61B17/0469, A61B17/12013, A61B17/1285, A61B17/29, A61B17/320016 take precedence)}
- A61B 17/1227: {Spring clips}
- A61B 90/39: {Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers}
- A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac}
- A61B 2017/0404: {Buttons}
- A61B 2017/0441: {the shaft being a rigid coil or spiral}
- A61B 2017/048: {for reducing heart wall tension, e.g. sutures with a pad on each extremity}
- A61B 2017/0496: {for tensioning sutures}
- A61B 2090/064: {for measuring force, pressure or mechanical tension}
- A61F 2250/0003: having an inflatable pocket filled with fluid, e.g. liquid or gas
- 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

A method and implantation tools for placing a transventricular splint including a tension member. The method includes gaining access to the patient's hearts and identifying entry or exit points for the tension member, marking those locations and delivering the tension member. Anchors for the tension member are also delivered. The length of the tensions member is measured and the walls of the heart drawn together. The pads are secured to the tension member and the tension member is trimmed to length. The pads are secured to the heart surface.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A minimally-invasive surgical procedure comprising:
forming an incision through a patient's chest wall to create a chest access point;
advancing a catheter through the chest access point toward a target location on an exterior surface of a patient's heart, wherein the target location is proximate an apex of the patient's heart;
penetrating heart wall tissue at the target location on the patient's heart to create an opening in the heart wall and into a ventricle of the patient's heart, wherein the opening in the heart wall extends entirely through the heart wall from the outside of the heart and into the ventricle;
advancing the catheter through the opening in the heart wall;
deploying a device from the distal end of the catheter to implant the device in contact with heart tissue to restore heart functionality; and
removing the catheter from the patient's heart while leaving the device implanted in the heart tissue.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method claim 1, further comprising:
advancing a shaft through the opening in the heart wall; and
positioning the shaft within the opening in the heart wall;
wherein advancing the catheter through the opening in the heart wall comprises advancing the catheter through the shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, further comprising:
applying suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex to limit bleeding around the shaft.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, wherein applying suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex comprises applying a purse-string suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex and around the shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises a tension member.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, wherein deploying the device from the distal end of the catheter to implant the device comprises passing the tension member through a ventricular wall of the heart at position away from the apex of the patient's heart.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, further comprising:
placing one or more anchors on the tension member to thereby secure the tension member to the ventricular wall.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein deploying the device from the distal end of the catheter to implant the device comprises implanting the device at a position away from the apex of the patient's heart.

### Claim 9

A minimally-invasive surgical procedure comprising:
performing a partial thoracotomy to create an opening through a patient's chest wall between ribs thereof to create a chest access point;
creating an opening through a heart wall of the patient's heart proximal the apex of the heart;
positioning a shaft within the opening in the heart wall;
advancing a catheter into the patient and through the shaft and through the heart wall and into a ventricle of the patient's heart, wherein the catheter comprises a catheter distal end;
positioning the catheter distal end adjacent a deployment site within the patient's heart, wherein the deployment site is away from apex of the heart;
deploying a device from the distal end of the catheter and into contact with heart tissue at the deployment site within the patient's heart; and
removing the catheter from the patient's heart while leaving the device in contact with the heart tissue.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein the device comprises a tension member.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein deploying the device from the distal end of the catheter to implant the device comprises passing the tension member through a ventricular wall of the heart.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The method of claim 11, further comprising:
placing one or more anchors on the tension member to thereby secure the tension member to the ventricular wall.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, further comprising:
applying suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex to limit bleeding around the shaft.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The method of claim 9, wherein applying suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex comprises applying a purse-string suture to the heart tissue proximate the apex and around the shaft.