Devices, systems, and methods for supporting tissue and/or structures within a hollow body organ

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods support tissue in a body organ for the purpose of restoring or maintaining native function of the organ. The devices, systems, and methods do not require invasive, open surgical approaches to be implemented, but, instead, lend themselves to catheter-based, intra-vascular and / or percutaneous techniques.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 808,216, filed Mar. 24, 2004, entitled “Devices, Systems, and Methods for Supporting Tissue and / or Structures Within a Hollow Body Organ,” which is a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 307,226, filed Nov. 29, 2002. This application is also a continuation-in-part of co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 271,334, filed Oct. 15, 2002, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 333,937 filed 28 Nov. 2001.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The features of the invention are generally applicable to devices, systems, and methods that support tissue and / or structures within a hollow body organ. In a more particular sense, the features of the invention are applicable to improving heart function by supporting tissue and related structures in the heart, e.g., for the treatment of conditions such as congestive heart fai...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The invention provides devices, systems, and methods for supporting tissue in a hollow body organ to restore or maintain native function. The devices, systems, and methods do not require invasive, open surgical approaches to be implemented, but instead, lend themselves to catheter-based, intra-vascular or percutaneous techniques. The supporting effect serves to draw tissue inward, reducing tissue volume within the hollow body organ, as well as resist subsequent enlargement of tissue volume. The invention also provides systems and methods for forming a tissue fold within a hollow body organ to reduce internal tissue volume and resist subsequent enlargement of tissue volume. The invention can be used to support tissue in a heart chamber, seal or close perforations, holes, or defects in tissue, and close or seal atrial appendages or septal defects."

Problems solved by technology

When a body organ looses its native shape due to disease, injury, or simply the natural aging process, the native functions can be adversely affected.

Infection, myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, other diseases, or anatomic defects can adversely affect the normal synchronous pumping actions of the left and right sides of the heart and / or the operation of heart valves during the cardiac cycle.

This condition can lead to adverse consequences.

Over time, other chambers of the heart may also become weaker.

The stretching and enlargement of a heart chamber, e.g., in the left ventricle, can lead to a condition called congestive heart failure.

If not treated, congestive heart failure can lead to pulmonary embolisms, circulatory shutdown, and death.

Such dysfunctions can eventually also weaken the heart and can result in heart failure.

Images