Devices and methods for coronary sinus pressure relief

Abstract

A method and devices for relieving pressure in the left atrium of a patient's heart is disclosed. The method includes using an ablative catheter in a minimally invasive procedure to prepare an opening from the coronary sinus into a left atrium of the patient's heart. Once the opening is prepared, the opening may be enlarged by a technique such as expanding a balloon within the opening. A stent is then placed within the coronary sinus of the patient, with a transverse portion expanding within the opening, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the coronary sinus and then to the right atrium. Pressure within the left atrium is thus relieved.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Appl. 61 / 449,566, filed Mar. 4, 2011 entitled DEVICES AND METHODS FOR CORONARY SINUS PRESSURE RELIEF. This application is also a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 954,468, filed on Nov. 24, 2010, entitled MOUNTING TOOL FOR LOADING A PROSTHESIS, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 954,468 application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application having Ser. No. 61 / 240,085 entitled DEVICES AND METHODS TO TREAT HEART FAILURE filed Sep. 4, 2009, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 954,468 is also a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. Nonprovisional patent application Ser. No. 12 / 719,843, filed on Mar. 8, 2010, entitled DEVICES, SYSTEMS AND METHODS TO TREAT HEART FAILURE, and ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

"The patent describes a stent for use in a patient to relieve pressure in the heart. The stent has a longer cylindrical portion that is placed in the coronary sinus and a shorter portion that extends into the left atrium. The stent is designed to create an opening from the left atrium to the coronary sinus, allowing blood to flow from the left atrium to the coronary sinus and reduce pressure in the left atrium. The stent can also include a flow control element that provides greater resistance to flow in one direction than in another direction. The invention also includes a method for placement of the stent and a method for treatment of heart failure. The stent and methods described help to reduce the risk of complications and improve symptoms associated with diastolic heart failure."

Problems solved by technology

Heart failure is a common and potentially lethal condition affecting humans, with sub-optimal clinical outcomes often resulting in symptoms, morbidity and / or mortality, despite maximal medical treatment.

This condition is characterized by a stiff left ventricle with decreased compliance and impaired relaxation, which leads to increased end-diastolic pressure.

Approximately one third of patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure and there are very few, if any, proven effective treatments.

In addition to diastolic heart failure, a number of other medical conditions, including systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, can lead to elevated pressures in the left atrium.

Increased left atrial pressure often causes acute or chronic breathlessness amongst other problems.

In addition, a variety of heart conditions can lead to “right heart failure”, which can result in enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and / or swelling of the lower limbs.

As blood backs up into the pulmonary system, fluid leaks into the lungs and causes pulmonary edema.

Blood volume going to the atrium reduces volume of blood going forward into the aorta causing low cardiac output.

Excess blood in the atrium over-fills the ventricle during each cardiac cycle and causes volume overload in the left ventricle.

Heart failure with such symptoms is a common and potentially lethal condition affecting humans, with sub-optimal clinical outcomes often resulting in symptoms, morbidity and / or mortality, despite maximal medical treatment.

This condition is characterized by a stiff left ventricle with decreased compliance and impaired relaxation, which leads to increased end-diastolic pressure.

Approximately one third of patients with heart failure have diastolic heart failure and there are very few, if any, proven effective treatments.

In addition to diastolic heart failure, a number of other medical conditions, including systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle and valve disease, can lead to elevated pressures in the left atrium.

Increased left atrial pressure often causes acute or chronic breathlessness amongst other problems.

In addition, a variety of heart conditions can lead to “right heart failure”, which can result in enlargement of the liver (hepatomegaly), fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and / or swelling of the lower limbs.

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