# US 8,771,302 B2 · Method and apparatus for resecting and replacing an aortic valve > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,771,302 B2 - Document ID: US8771302B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/784,438 - Filed: 2007-04-06 - Published: 2007-08-09 - Granted: 2014-07-08 - Earliest claimed: 2001-06-29 - Assignees: Medtronic, Inc. - Applicants: Steven B. Woolfson; Richard B. Streeter; Daniel C. Taylor; William E. Cohn - Inventors: Steven B. Woolfson; Richard B. Streeter; Daniel C. Taylor; William E. Cohn - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8771302B2 ## CPC - A61F 2/2427: {Devices for manipulating or deploying heart valves during implantation} - A61B 17/32002: {with continuously rotating, oscillating or reciprocating cutting instruments} - A61B 17/320725: {with radially expandable cutting or abrading elements (A61B17/32075 takes precedence)} - A61B 10/06: Biopsy forceps {, e.g. with cup-shaped jaws} - A61B 17/32053: {Punch like cutting instruments, e.g. using a cylindrical or oval knife (A61B17/326 takes precedence; trepans A61B17/1695)} - A61B 17/320783: {through side-hole, e.g. sliding or rotating cutter inside catheter} - A61B 2017/00243: {cardiac} - A61B 2017/00349: {Needle-like instruments having hook or barb-like gripping means, e.g. for grasping suture or tissue (A61B17/06066 takes precedence)} - A61B 2017/00685: {Archimedes screw} - A61B 2017/00783: {Valvuloplasty} - A61B 2017/22097: {Valve removal in veins} - A61B 2017/320004: {abrasive} - A61B 2017/32006: {with a cutting strip, band or chain, e.g. like a chainsaw} - A61B 2017/320064: {with tissue or sample retaining means} - 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 Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve, the apparatus including: a body portion; a first handle and a second handle; a cutting blade; a set of retaining arms; a pass-off tool having a first attachment device configured to selectively engage the first handle attached to the body portion so as to allow placement of the second handle of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, and a controller tool, having a second attachment device at the distal end thereof, the second attachment device configured to selectively engage the second handle attached to the body portion so as to allow positioning of the body portion adjacent to the diseased heart valve, a cutting blade actuator configured to cause the cutting blade to selectively rotate, and a retaining arm actuator configured to selectively position the set of retaining arms from the contracted state to the expanded state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve of a heart, the apparatus comprising: an elongate member to allow the apparatus to be positioned in the heart, the elongate member having a distal end; a selectively expandable portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the selectively expandable portion is positioned at the distal end of the elongate member, the selectively expandable portion defines a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end and is selectively expandable from a first position having a given width in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis to a second position having a larger width in the perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis; and at least one cutting element, for cutting the diseased heart valve, disposed on the elongate member wherein the at least one cutting element is moved from the first position to the second position by the selectively expandable portion; wherein the selectively expandable portion has a first opening extending into the proximal end, and the selectively expandable portion having a given width from the first opening to an outer surface in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the selectively expandable portion, the given width configured to prevent a wall of a cardiovascular structure from being cut by the cutting element disposed on the elongate member that is within the first opening and to permit the apparatus to be placed within the diseased valve, wherein the selectively expandable portion comprises at least three expandable arms and the at least one cutting element is disposed on at least one of the at least three expandable arms, wherein at least one of the at least three expandable arms having the cutting element disposed thereon defines a window recess therein having a given depth from an outer surface, and further wherein the cutting element is disposed in the window recess. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one cutting element is disposed on the selectively expandable portion of the apparatus. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein when the selectively expandable portion is in the second position, the at least one cutting element cuts as the selectively expandable portion is rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the selectively expandable portion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one cutting element extends longitudinally along the longitudinal axis of the selectively expandable portion such that when the at least one cutting element is in the second position, the at least one cutting element cuts as the selectively expandable portion is rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the selectively expandable portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least one cutting element comprises a plurality of blades that move together and in a similar manner from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein the selectively expandable portion further comprises a hinge mechanism holding the blades together, the apparatus further comprises a control rod extending from the proximal end of the selectively expandable portion, and the control rod is able to position the blades from the first position to the second position. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the at least one cutting element extends longitudinally along the elongate member and when the selectively expandable portion is in the second position, the at least one cutting element cuts as the selectively expandable portion is rotated with respect to the longitudinal axis of the selectively expandable portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a first restraining element at the proximal end of the set of expandable arms and a second restraining element at the distal end of the set of expandable arms, wherein the first and second restraining elements selectively position the set of expandable arms between the first and second positions. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the elongate member comprises a catheter and the first position is with the selectively expandable portion being inside the distal end of the catheter and the second position is with the selectively expandable portion being outside the distal end of the catheter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Apparatus of claim 1 wherein the cutting element comprises a wire. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wire comprises an electrocautery element. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wire is rotary driven. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wire is reciprocally driven. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) Apparatus of claim 10 wherein the wire comprises a rough surface. ### Claim 15 Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve of a heart, the apparatus comprising: an elongate member to allow the apparatus to be positioned in the heart, the elongate member having a longitudinal axis and a distal end; a selectively expandable portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the selectively expandable portion is positioned at the distal end of the elongate member, the selectively expandable portion defines a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end and is selectively expandable from a first position having a given width in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis to a second position having a larger width in the perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis; and at least one cutting element, for cutting the diseased heart valve, disposed on the elongate member within the selectively expandable portion, wherein the at least one cutting element is moved from the first position to the second position by the selectively expandable portion, and wherein the selectively expandable portion comprises at least three expandable arms and the at least one cutting element is disposed on at least one of the at least three expandable arms, wherein at least one of the at least three expandable arms having the cutting element disposed thereon defines a window recess therein having a given depth from an outer surface, and further wherein the cutting element is disposed in the window recess. ### Claim 16 Apparatus for resecting a diseased heart valve of a heart, the apparatus comprising: an elongate member to allow the apparatus to be positioned in the heart, the elongate member having a distal end; a selectively expandable portion having a proximal end and a distal end, wherein the selectively expandable portion is positioned at the distal end of the elongate member, the selectively expandable portion defines a longitudinal axis from the proximal end to the distal end and is selectively expandable from a first position having a given width in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis to a second position having a larger width in the perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis; and at least one cutting element, for cutting the diseased heart valve, disposed on the elongate member wherein the at least one cutting element is moved from the first position to the second position by the selectively expandable portion; wherein the selectively expandable portion comprises at least three expandable arms and the at least one cutting element is disposed on at least one of the at least three expandable arms, wherein at least one of the at least three expandable arms having the cutting element disposed thereon defines a window recess therein having a given depth from an outer surface, and further wherein the cutting element is disposed in the window recess, and wherein the elongate member comprises a catheter and the first position is with the selectively expandable portion being inside the distal end of the catheter and the second position is with the selectively expandable portion being outside the distal end of the catheter.