137 results about "Papillary muscle" 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 tubular prosthetic semilunar or atrioventricular heart valve is formed by cutting flat, flexible leaflets according to a pattern. The valve is constructed by aligning the side edges of adjacent leaflets so that the leaflet inner faces engage each other, and then suturing the leaflets together with successive stitches along a fold line adjacent the side edges. The stitches are placed successively from a proximal in-flow end of each leaflet toward a distal out-flow end. During operation, when the leaflets open and close, the leaflets fold along the fold line. Distal tabs extend beyond the distal end of each leaflet. The successive stitches terminate proximal of the distal tab portion so that no locked stitches are placed along the distal portion of the fold line. The tab portions of adjacent leaflets are folded over each other and sewn together to form commissural attachment tabs. The commissural tabs provide commissural attachment points to accommodate sutures and the like in order to secure the tab to a vessel wall, if a semilunar valve, and papillary muscles and/or chordae tendineae if an atrioventricular valve.

A tubular prosthetic semilunar or atrioventricular heart valve is formed by cutting flat, flexible leaflets according to a pattern. The valve is constructed by aligning the side edges of adjacent leaflets so that the leaflet inner faces engage each other, and then suturing the leaflets together with successive stitches along a fold line adjacent the side edges. The stitches are placed successively from a proximal in-flow end of each leaflet toward a distal out-flow end. During operation, when the leaflets open and close, the leaflets fold along the fold line. Distal tabs extend beyond the distal end of each leaflet. The successive stitches terminate proximal of the distal tab portion so that no locked stitches are placed along the distal portion of the fold line. The tab portions of adjacent leaflets are folded over each other and sewn together to form commissural attachment tabs. The commissural tabs provide commissural attachment points to accommodate sutures and the like in order to secure the tab to a vessel wall, if a semilunar valve, and papillary muscles and/or chordae tendineae if an atrioventricular valve.

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.

A supportless atrioventricular valve intended for attaching to a circumferential valve ring and papillary muscles of a patient comprising a singular flexible membrane of tissue or synthetic biomaterial, wherein a minimally invasive delivery system is provided through a percutaneous intercostal penetration and a penetration at the cardiac wall into a left atrium of the heart.

Methods and apparatus for mitral valve repair are disclosed herein where the posterior mitral leaflet is supported or buttressed in a frozen or immobile position to facilitate the proper coaptation of the leaflets. An implantable apparatus may be advanced and positioned intravascularly beneath the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve. The apparatus may include one or more individual balloon members, each of which may be optionally configured with supporting integrated structures. A magnet chain catheter may be positioned within the coronary sinus and adjacent to the mitral valve to magnetically secure the apparatus in position beneath the posterior mitral leaflet. Alternatively, a split-ring device may be placed about the chordae tendineae supporting the mitral valve such that the ring slides along the chordae tendineae alternately against the mitral leaflet and towards the papillary muscles during systole and diastole.

Methods and apparatus for use in repairing an atrioventricular valve in a patient are provided. The methods comprise accessing the patient's atrioventricular valve percutaneously, securing a fastening mechanism to a valve leaflet, and coupling the valve leaflet, while the patient's heart remains beating, to at least one of a ventricular wall adjacent the atrioventricular valve, a papillary muscle, at least one valve chordae, and a valve annulus to facilitate reducing leakage through the valve.

Devices and methods for treating or repairing a heart are disclosed. The device includes at least one anchor configured to engage tissue of a heart and a thread or other elongate member adapted to be coupled to the anchor and secured to heart tissue. The anchor may be attached to papillary muscle tissue and an elongate member may be attached to a valve leaflet for creating artificial chordae tendinae, thereby treating mitral valve prolapse. In another application, multiple anchors may be deployed within a ventricle and the threads pulled together for reducing dilation of a ventricle. A locking mechanism is provided for capturing and locking the threads together, thereby maintaining the ventricle in the reshaped condition.

A method and apparatus for performing mitral valve chordal repair on a patient include attaching at least one filament to a mitral valve leaflet and to a papillary muscle. A first end of a filament can be attached to the mitral valve leaflet and the length of the filament can be adjusted by adjusting the tension of the filament in a catheter. The second end of the filament can be attached to an attachment site.

Unique semi-circular papillary muscle and annulus bands are described that are useful for modifying the alignment of papillary muscles, a mitral valve annulus and/or a tricuspid valve annulus. Methods to effect the alignment are also described and an unique sizing device that can be used for such alignment is described.

A prosthetic valve assembly and method of implanting same is disclosed. The prosthetic valve assembly includes a prosthetic valve formed by support frame and valve leaflets, with one or more tethers each having a first end secured to the support frame and the second end attached to, or configured for attachment to, to papillary muscles or other ventricular tissue. The tether is configured and positioned so as to avoid contact or other interference with movement of the valve leaflets, while at the same time providing a tethering action between the support frame and the ventricular tissue. The valve leaflets may be flexible (e.g., so-called tissue or synthetic leaflets) or mechanical.

A system and method for treating a dilated heart valve by elongating a papillary muscle. The system comprises a delivery catheter 110 and a holding catheter 130. The system further comprises a muscle elongation device 200 including at least two clamping rings 210, 215 slidably connected by at least one connecting rod 220. The muscle elongation device 200 is delivered to a papillary muscle 560 associated with the dilated heart valve, where it is released from the delivery catheter 110 and the clamping rings 210, 215 wrap about and engage the papillary muscle. The muscle tissue is cut between the clamping rings 210, 215, which then move away from each other to a predetermined position, thus permitting the papillary muscle to elongate.

A method and apparatus for repairing the heart's mitral valve by using anatomic restoration without the need to stop the heart, use a heart-lung machine or making incisions on the heart. The method involves inserting a leaflet clamp through the heart's papillary muscle from which the leaflet has been disconnected, clamping the leaflet's free end and then puncturing the leaflet. One end of a suture is then passed through the hollow portion of the clamp, while the other end of the suture is maintained external to the heart. The clamp is then removed and the suture's two ends are fastened together with a securement ring/locking cap assembly to the heart wall exterior, thereby reconnecting the leaflet to the corresponding papillary muscle. The introduction of the clamp, puncturing of the leaflet, passage of the suture therethrough and removal of the clamp can be conducted a plurality of times before each suture's two ends are fastened to the securement ring/locking cap assembly.

The invention is an apparatus, system, and method for repairing heart valves. A suture line is secured to a papillary muscle, and then passed through a portion of a heart valve leaflet. A reference element is provided at a desired distance from a plane defined by the heart valve annulus. The suture line is secured to the heart valve leaflet at a position adjacent the reference element. The reference element may part of a device configured for placement on or in a heart valve annulus. The reference element may be slidingly secured to the device so that the distance of the reference element from the main body of the device can be varied by a surgeon or other user. The reference element may be a line of suture, which may be pre-installed during manufacture of the device or may be installed by the surgeon or other user.

A sewing ring (12) has a diameter commensurate with a diameter of a removed mitral valve. Skirts (44, 46) of mesh or net material extend downward from the sewing ring and line the walls of an associated vessel (58). Basal chordae simulating structures (34, 36) in the form of elongated strips of mesh or netting, rods, or the like extend from the skirt to an underside of each of two valve leaflets (14, 16). Marginal chordae simulating structures (30, 32) extend between each leaflet and the basal chordae simulating structure. The sewing ring (12) is stitched to an open end of a vessel and inner ends of the basal chordae simulating structure are stitched or stapled (50, 52) to associated papillary musculature (54, 56). In this manner, the papillary muscles assist in controlling the timing and control of the mitral valve.

This invention relates to devices and methods for the therapeutic changing of the geometry of the left ventricle of the human heart. Specifically, the invention relates to the left-ventricular lateral wall introduction of an anchoring device to align the papillary muscles.