Transvalvular intraannular band for aortic valve repair

Abstract

Aortic regurgitation can be treating by implanting in the aortic annulus a transvalvular intraannular band. The band has a first end, a first anchoring portion located proximate the first end, a second end, a second anchoring portion located proximate the second end, and a central portion. The central portion is positioned so that it extends transversely across a coaptive edge formed by the closure of the aortic valve leaflets. The band may be implanted via translumenal access or via thoracotomy.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12 / 104,011 filed Apr. 16, 2008, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to treatment of valvular regurgitation, such as, for example, involving the use of a transvalvular band to treat aortic regurgitation.[0004]2. Description of the Related Art[0005]The heart is a double (left and right side), self-adjusting muscular pump, the parts of which work in unison to propel blood to all parts of the body. The right side of the heart receives poorly oxygenated (“venous”) blood from the body from the superior vena cava and inferior vena cava and pumps it through the pulmonary artery to the lungs for oxygenation. The left side receives well-oxygenated (“arterial”) blood from the lungs through the pulmonary veins and pum...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0022]Also disclosed herein is a method of treating aortic regurgitation. The method includes the steps of delivering a first tissue anchor to a first location along the wall of an aortic interleaflet triangle; delivering a second tissue anchor to a second location along the wall of the aortic interleaflet triangle, the second tissue anchor operably connected to the first tissue anchor; and reducing the distance from the first location to the second location to improve aortic leaflet coaptivity during diastole. In some embodiments, the first tissue anchor and the second tissue anchor are operably connected via a tether. Reducing the distance from the first location to the second location can involve applying tension to the tether. Tension can be applied using a cinching mechanism in some embodiments.

Problems solved by technology

Various disease processes can impair the proper functioning of one or more of these valves.

In addition, damage to the ventricle from prior heart attacks (i.e., myocardial infarction secondary to coronary artery disease) or other heart diseases (e.g., cardiomyopathy) can distort the valve's geometry causing it to dysfunction.

The predominant cause of dysfunction of the mitral valve is regurgitation which produces an ineffective cardiac pump function resulting in several deleterious conditions such as ventricular and atrial enlargement, pulmonary hypertension and heart-failure and ultimately death.

Historically, the surgical approach to patients with functional mitral regurgitation was mitral valve replacement, however with certain adverse consequences such as thromboembolic complications, the need for anticoagulation, insufficient durability of the valve, loss of ventricular function and geometry.

These procedures are surgically demanding and require a bloodless and well-exposed operating field for an optimal surgical result.

This method commonly referred to as an edge-to-edge or “Alfieri” repair also has certain drawbacks such as the creation of a double orifice valve and thereby reducing the effective orifice area.

However, it still remains to conduct an annuloplasty procedure, which has not yet been resolved by a catheter technique and therefore is to be performed by conventional surgery, which makes the method impractical.

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