Patent DE3447681A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20030093071A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Cardiac valve leaflet stapler device and methods thereof
Assignee: Evalve Inc
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Filing: 2001-11-15
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2021-11-15
Abstract
Abstract A medical device system comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, the guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion percutaneously into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve, the leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through the guide catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets, wherein the fastening applicator comprises a pair of grasping-electrodes adapted for holding and engaging the portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together and for applying energy to fasten the portions, in which heart valve leaflets can be captured and securely fastened, thereby improving coaptation of the leaflets and improving competence of the valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Wallace Hauck
- 👤 Samuel Lichtenstein
- 👤 Hosheng Tu
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 00:45
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B18/00; A61B18/04; A61B18/12; A61B18/14; A61B18/1442; A61B18/1492; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00535; A61B2017/00561; A61B2017/00566; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61B2018/00315; A61B2018/00345; A61B2018/00351; A61B2018/00357; A61B2018/00571; A61B2018/00619
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
90 words
1 . A device system comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, said guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve, said leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through said guide catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets, wherein said fastening applicator comprises a pair of grasping-electrodes adapted for holding and engaging said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together and for applying radiofrequency energy to fasten said portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
90 words
1 . A device system comprising a guide catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, said guide catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into a human heart in a vicinity of a heart valve, said leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through said guide catheter and being capable of holding portions of opposing heart valve leaflets, wherein said fastening applicator comprises a pair of grasping-electrodes adapted for holding and engaging said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together and for applying radiofrequency energy to fasten said portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
2 . The device system of claim 1 , wherein a first of said grasping-electrodes comprises a plurality of spikes and a second of said grasping-electrodes comprises a plurality of recesses configured to engage the spikes of said first grasping-electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
3 . The device system of claim 2 , wherein the radiofrequency energy is provided from an external radiofrequency source and passes from the first grasping-electrode through said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets to the second grasping-electrode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
4 . The device system of claim 1 further comprising at least a gripper, said gripper having a suitable opening for applying suction to one of said heart valve leaflets.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
5 . The device system of claim 1 , wherein said first grasping-electrode comprises a first hole and said second grasping-electrode comprises a second hole that is aligned with the first hole, said first and second holes being adapted suitable for inserting a suture or a staple to fasten said portions of the opposing heart valve leaflets.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
6 . The device system of claim 1 , wherein the pair of grasping-electrodes is configured to comprise at least one clip button set, said at least one clip button set having a notch on the first grasping-electrode and a lip on the second grasping-electrode in which said notch engages said lip when the grasping-electrodes are held close to each other.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
7 . The device system of claim 1 further comprising a tubular gripper having a distal end and a lumen, said tubular gripper having a suitable opening at its distal end for applying suction to grip at least two of said heart valve leaflets to enter said lumen adapted for fastening said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets together.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
8 . A method for fastening portions of opposing heart valve leaflets in a patient, the method comprising means for holding said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets close to each other and applying energy to jointly weld said portions together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
8 . A method for fastening portions of opposing heart valve leaflets in a patient, the method comprising means for holding said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets close to each other and applying energy to jointly weld said portions together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy is radiofrequency energy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy is ultrasound energy.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy is laser energy.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the energy is electromagnetic energy.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein means for holding said portions of opposing heart valve leaflets close to each other comprises applying suction to grip said opposing heart valve leaflets.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
164 words
14 . A method for fastening a first edge of a first valve leaflet to a second edge of an opposite second valve leaflet in a patient, the method comprising: (a) introducing a medical device into a vicinity of a valve needed for repairing, the medical device comprising a catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, said catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into the patient in the vicinity of said valve, said leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through said catheter and being capable of holding the first edge of the first valve leaflet to the second edge of the opposite second valve leaflet, wherein said fastening applicator comprises a pair of fastening elements adapted for holding and engaging said first edge and second edge of valve leaflets close to each other; and (b) applying energy to the fastening elements to securely fasten said first edge of the first valve leaflet to said second edge of the second valve leaflet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
164 words
14 . A method for fastening a first edge of a first valve leaflet to a second edge of an opposite second valve leaflet in a patient, the method comprising: (a) introducing a medical device into a vicinity of a valve needed for repairing, the medical device comprising a catheter and a leaflet fastening applicator, said catheter having suitable dimensions for deployment and insertion into the patient in the vicinity of said valve, said leaflet fastening applicator having a size allowing insertion through said catheter and being capable of holding the first edge of the first valve leaflet to the second edge of the opposite second valve leaflet, wherein said fastening applicator comprises a pair of fastening elements adapted for holding and engaging said first edge and second edge of valve leaflets close to each other; and (b) applying energy to the fastening elements to securely fasten said first edge of the first valve leaflet to said second edge of the second valve leaflet.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the valve is a heart valve selected from a group consisting of mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve and pulmonary valve.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the valve is a venous valve.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the energy applied to the fastening elements comprises radiofrequency energy.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
18 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the energy applied to the fastening elements comprises ultrasound energy.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
19 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the energy applied to the fastening elements comprises laser energy
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
20 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the energy applied to the fastening elements comprises electromagnetic energy.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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