824 results about "Mitral valve leaflet" patented technology

The methods, devices, and systems are provided for performing endovascular repair of atrioventricular and other cardiac valves in the heart. Regurgitation of an atrioventricular valve, particularly a mitral valve, can be repaired by modifying a tissue structure selected from the valve leaflets, the valve annulus, the valve chordae, and the papillary muscles. These structures may be modified by suturing, stapling, snaring, or shortening, using interventional tools which are introduced to a heart chamber. Preferably, the tissue structures will be temporarily modified prior to permanent modification. For example, opposed valve leaflets may be temporarily grasped and held into position prior to permanent attachment.

A method for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising: providing a plication assembly comprising a first anchoring element, a second anchoring element, and a linkage construct connecting the first anchoring element to the second anchoring element; positioning the first anchoring element in the coronary sinus adjacent to the mitral annulus, and positioning the second anchoring element in another area of the mitral annulus so that the linkage construct extends across the opening of the mitral valve and holds the mitral valve in a reconfigured configuration so as to reduce mitral regurgitation. An apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation comprising: a plication assembly comprising a first anchoring element, a second anchoring element, and a linkage construct connecting the first anchoring element to the second anchoring element; and a catheter adapted to deliver the first anchoring element to the coronary sinus.

A novel system for performing a heart valve annuloplasty. The system involves the use of a plication band. In one embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by constriction of the plication band itself. More particularly, each plication band enters the tissue at two or more points which are spaced from one other by a distance which is dictated by the geometry of the plication band. Subsequent constriction of the plication band causes these points to move toward each other, thereby constricting the tissue trapped between these points and thus reducing the overall circumference of the valve annulus. In a second embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by linking multiple plication bands to one other, using a linkage construct, and then using a shortening of the length of the linkage construct between each plication band so as to gather the tissue between each plication band, whereby to reduce the overall circumference of the valve annulus.

A device, kit and method may include or employ an implantable device (e.g., annuloplasty implant) and a tool operable to implant such. The implantable device is positionable in a cavity of a bodily organ (e.g., a heart) and operable to constrict a bodily orifice (e.g., a mitral valve). The tissue anchors may be guided into precise position by an intravascularly or percutaneously deployed anchor guide frame of the tool and embedded in an annulus of the orifice. Constriction of the orifice may be accomplished via a variety of structures, for example by cinching a flexible cable or via a anchored annuloplasty ring, the cable or ring attached to the tissue anchors. The annuloplasty ring may be delivered in an unanchored, generally elongated configuration, and implanted in an anchored generally arch, arcuate or annular configuration. Such may approximate the septal and lateral (clinically referred to as anterior and posterior) annulus of the mitral valve, to move the posterior leaflet anteriorly and the anterior leaflet posteriorly, thereby improving leaflet coaptation to eliminate mitral regurgitation.

Disclosed are implants and methods for remote remodeling of a mitral valve annulus. The implant comprises a body transformable from a flexible configuration for navigation to a treatment site, to a remodeling configuration for, in one application, applying pressure to the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. On board electronics allow post deployment adjustment of the implant.

A valve implant or prosthesis includes a skirt or prosthetic valve leaflet configured to cover one of the leaflets of the valve to be repaired in a patient's heart. In one embodiment, a heart valve prosthesis includes a curved member and a skirt. The curved member can have first and second ends and be adapted to form a partial ring along a portion of one of the valve annulae in the patient's heart. Alternatively, the curved member can form a full ring that is adapted to extend along the entire valve annulus. The skirt extends along the curved member and depends therefrom. This prosthesis is especially useful in treating mitral valve insufficiency. In this case, the skirt can be configured so that when the prosthesis is secured to the mitral valve along the mitral valve annulus, the skirt covers the posterior leaflet and the opposed edges of the skirt and the anterior leaflet coapt. In addition, when the curved member is secured to the posterior portion of the mitral valve annulus, further annulus dilation can be minimized or eliminated. Implant delivery apparatus is provided for rapid implant delivery and securement to the valve.

A prosthetic mitral valve assembly and method of inserting the same is disclosed. In certain disclosed embodiments, the prosthetic mitral valve assembly has a flared upper end and a tapered portion to fit the contours of the native mitral valve. The prosthetic mitral valve assembly can include a stent or outer support frame with a valve mounted therein, The assembly can be adapted to expand radially outwardly and into contact with the native tissue to create a pressure fit. One embodiment of a method includes positioning the mitral valve assembly below the annulus such that the annulus itself can restrict the assembly from moving in an upward direction towards the left atrium. The mitral valve assembly is also positioned so that the leaflets of the mitral valve hold the assembly to prevent downward movement of the assembly towards the left ventricle.

A catheter based system for treating mitral valve regurgitation includes a restraining device having a flexible member, a plurality of movable anchor members attached to the outer surface of the flexible member, and an adjustment filament attached to the ends of the flexible member. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for attaching a flexible restraining device to the annulus of a mitral valve, and adjusting the length of the adjustment filament attached to the flexible member of the restraining device, thereby reshaping the mitral valve annulus so that the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve close during ventricular contraction.

The present invention relates to a minimally invasive method of performing annuloplasty. According to one aspect of the present invention, a method for performing annuloplasty includes accessing a left ventricle of a heart to provide a discrete plication element to the left ventricle, and engaging the plication element to tissue near a mitral valve of the heart. Engaging the plication element includes causing the plication element to gather a portion of the tissue to create a plication. In one embodiment, accessing the left ventricle of the heart to provide the plication element includes accessing the left ventricle of the heart using a catheter arrangement.

Implants or systems of implants apply a selected force vector or a selected combination of force vectors within or across the left atrium, which allow mitral valve leaflets to better coapt. The implants or systems of implants make possible rapid deployment, facile endovascular delivery, and full intra-atrial retrievability. The implants or systems of implants also make use of strong fluoroscopic landmarks.

A device, system, and method effects mitral valve annulus geometry of a heart. The device includes a first anchor configured to be positioned within and fixed to the coronary sinus of the heart adjacent the mitral valve annulus within the heart. A cable is fixed to the first anchor and extends proximately therefrom and slidingly through a second anchor which is positioned and fixed in the heart proximal to the first anchor. A lock locks the cable to the second anchor when tension is applied to the cable for effecting the mitral valve annulus geometry.

A mitral heart valve annuloplasty ring having a posterior bow that conforms to an abnormal posterior aspect of the mitral annulus. The ring may be generally oval having a major axis and a minor axis, wherein the posterior bow may be centered along the minor axis or offset in a posterior section. The ring may be substantially planar, or may include upward bows on either side of the posterior bow. The ring may include a ring body surrounded by a suture-permeable fabric sheath, and the ring body may be formed of a plurality of concentric ring elements. The ring is semi-rigid and the posterior bow is stiff enough to withstand deformation once implanted and subjected to normal physiologic stresses. The ring elements may be bands of semi-rigid material. A method of repairing an abnormal mitral heart valve annulus having a depressed posterior aspect includes providing a ring with a posterior bow and implanting the ring to support the annulus without unduly stressing the attachment sutures.

A prosthetic mitral valve with a frame comprises at least one arm shaped to deploy among a region of chordae tendineae of the native mitral valve to deflect these chords in order to pull the native valve leaflets around the frame to avoid paravalvular leaks. The frame may be made from two parts that are connected by sutures. The prosthetic valve may be deployed by a catherer comprising a deployment clamp attached to the valve frame where the deployment clamp is actuable to induce rotation of the frame.

A system for treating mitral valve regurgitation comprises tensioning device that can be deployed using a delivery catheter. The device includes tension member linking a proximal anchor and distal anchor. The device is constructed from a material having suitable elastic properties such that the device applies a constant tension force between the anchors, while stretching or flexing in response to a heartbeat when positioned across a chamber of a heart. The anchors may include a plurality of arms. In some embodiments, the arms may also flex in response to a heart beat. When positioned across the left ventricle of a heart, the device can reduce the lateral distance between the walls of the ventricle and thus allow better coaption of the mitral valve leaflets thereby reducing mitral regurgitation.

The various aspects of the invention pertain to devices and related methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation, valve incompetencies, including mitral valve leakage, and other similar heart failure conditions. The devices and related methods of the present invention operate to assist in the apposition of heart valve leaflets to improve valve function. According to one aspect of the invention, a method improves the function of a valve of a heart by placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber so that each end of the elongate member extends through a wall of the heart, and placing first and second anchoring members external the chamber. The first and second anchoring members are attached to first and second ends of the elongate member to fix the elongate member in a position across the chamber so as to reposition papillary muscles within the chamber. Also described herein is a method for placing a splint assembly transverse a heart chamber by advancing an elongate member through vasculature structure and into the heart chamber.

Devices, systems and methods facilitate positioning of a cardiac valve annulus treatment device, thus enhancing treatment of the annulus. Methods generally involve advancing an anchor delivery device through vasculature of the patient to a location in the heart for treating the valve annulus, contacting the anchor delivery device with a length of the valve annulus, delivering a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus, and drawing the anchors together to circumferentially tighten the valve annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having at least one tensioning member and at least one tensioning actuator for deforming a distal portion of the catheter to help it conform to a valve annulus. The catheter device may be used to navigate a subannular space below a mitral valve to facilitate positioning of an anchor delivery device.