Patent US20060025784A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US20060025784A1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Delivery devices and methods for heart valve repair
Assignee: Ancora Heart Inc
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Filing: 2004-07-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2024-07-27
Abstract
Abstract 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.
Inventors
- 👤 Niel Starksen
- 👤 John To
- 👤 Mariel Fabro
- 👤 Michael Wei
- 👤 Rodolfo Morales
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:13
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2427; A61F2/2436; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/064; A61B17/0643; A61B17/0644; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61F2/2442; A61F2/2445; A61F2/2466; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00778; A61B2017/00783; A61B2017/00831; A61B2017/00867; A61B2017/0409; A61B2017/0414; A61B2017/044; A61B2017/0443; A61B2017/0496; A61B17/28; A61B17/29; A61B2017/2901; A61B2017/2905; A61F2/2454
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
132 words
1 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart; a series of tissue-engageable anchors releasably carried by the elongate carrier, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; a tether serially coupling the anchors to one another, the tether having a distal end secured to the distal anchor or engageable with the distal anchor when the tether is pulled in a proximal direction; at least the proximal anchor being slidably coupled to the tether; and a separator positioned along the tether between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the tether is placed in tension.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
132 words
1 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart; a series of tissue-engageable anchors releasably carried by the elongate carrier, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; a tether serially coupling the anchors to one another, the tether having a distal end secured to the distal anchor or engageable with the distal anchor when the tether is pulled in a proximal direction; at least the proximal anchor being slidably coupled to the tether; and a separator positioned along the tether between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the tether is placed in tension.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
2 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the elongate carrier comprises a catheter-type housing having an open interior.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
3 . The device according to claim 2 wherein the anchors are releasably housed within the open interior of the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
4 . The device according to claim 1 wherein said adjacent ones of said anchors are the distal and first intermediate anchors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
5 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the anchors are self-forming and self-securing anchors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
6 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a generally tubular member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
7 . The device according to claim 6 wherein the tether passes through the generally tubular member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
8 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator has a textured outer surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
9 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator is a nonporous separator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
10 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator is a porous separator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
11 . The device according to claim 10 wherein the porous separator comprises pores, said pores provided by cutouts formed in the separator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
12 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator comprises a woven or braided separator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
13 . The device according to claim 12 wherein the separator is rigid.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
14 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator is effectively axially incompressible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
15 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator is axially compressible from a first length to a second, compressed length.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
16 . The device according to claim 15 wherein the axially compressible separators are joined to one another.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
17 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the separator comprises first and second portions engaging the tether and a third portion connecting the first and second portions.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
18 . The device according to claim 17 wherein the third portion extends to one side of and generally parallel to the tether.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
90 words
19 . The device according to claim 1 wherein: the elongate carrier has a longitudinal axis; the anchors are self-forming tissue-engageable anchors; the anchors each have a first part and a second part, the second part having a tissue-piercing tip; the elongate carrier having openings sized for passage of the anchors therethrough; the anchors placeable in a relatively straight, undeployed state generally parallel to the longitudinal axis within the elongate carrier; and the anchors naturally assuming a curved, tissue-engaging deployed state after passing through the opening in the elongate carrier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
19 words
20 . The device according to claim 19 wherein at least a portion of the elongate carrier is flexible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
14 words
21 . The device according to claim 20 wherein the elongate carrier is steerable.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
33 words
22 . The device according to claim 19 wherein at least one of the anchors comprises said first part, and wherein at least two of said second parts extend from the first part.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
23 . The device according to claim 22 wherein the second parts extend in directions generally opposite one another when in the deployed state.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
24 . The device according to claim 23 wherein the second parts have generally circular or semicircular shapes when in the deployed state.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
24 words
25 . The device according to claim 19 wherein the anchors are oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when in the deployed state.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
26 . The device according to claim 19 wherein each anchor has a generally circular or semicircular shape when in the deployed state.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
41 words
27 . The device according to claim 19 wherein the elongate carrier has a diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state have a diametrical dimension D, and wherein the ratio of D to d is at least 3.5.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
41 words
28 . The device according to claim 19 wherein the elongate carrier has the diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state have a diametrical dimension D, and wherein the ratio of D to d is at least 4.4.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
41 words
29 . The device according to claim 19 wherein the elongate carrier has the diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state have a diametrical dimension D, and wherein the ratio of D to d is at least 7.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
30 . The device according to claim 19 wherein the elongate carrier has the diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state have a diametrical dimension D, and wherein the ratio of D to d is at least 8.8.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
31 . The device according to claim 1 wherein the elongate carrier comprises proximal and distal portions, the anchors being carried by the distal portion, the distal portion being releasable from the proximal portions, the distal portion being pierceable by the anchors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
280 words
32 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier, having a longitudinal axis, constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart, at least a portion of the elongate carrier being flexible; a series of self-forming, tissue-engageable anchors releasably carried by the elongate carrier, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; the anchors each having a first part and at least two second parts extending from the first part, each second part having a tissue-piercing tip; the elongate carrier having openings sized for passage of the anchors therethrough; the anchors placeable in a relatively straight, undeployed state generally parallel to the longitudinal axis within the elongate carrier; the anchors naturally assuming a curved, tissue-engaging deployed state after passing through the opening in the elongate carrier; the second parts having generally circular or semicircular shapes when in the deployed state; the anchors being oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when in the deployed state; the elongate carrier having a diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state having a diametrical dimension D, the ratio of D to d being at least 3.5; a tether serially coupling the anchors to one another, the tether having a distal end secured to the distal anchor or engageable with the distal anchor when the tether is pulled in a proximal direction; at least the proximal anchor being slidably coupled to the tether; and a separator positioned along the tether between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the tether is placed in tension.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
280 words
32 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier, having a longitudinal axis, constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart, at least a portion of the elongate carrier being flexible; a series of self-forming, tissue-engageable anchors releasably carried by the elongate carrier, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; the anchors each having a first part and at least two second parts extending from the first part, each second part having a tissue-piercing tip; the elongate carrier having openings sized for passage of the anchors therethrough; the anchors placeable in a relatively straight, undeployed state generally parallel to the longitudinal axis within the elongate carrier; the anchors naturally assuming a curved, tissue-engaging deployed state after passing through the opening in the elongate carrier; the second parts having generally circular or semicircular shapes when in the deployed state; the anchors being oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis when in the deployed state; the elongate carrier having a diametrical dimension d and the anchors in the deployed state having a diametrical dimension D, the ratio of D to d being at least 3.5; a tether serially coupling the anchors to one another, the tether having a distal end secured to the distal anchor or engageable with the distal anchor when the tether is pulled in a proximal direction; at least the proximal anchor being slidably coupled to the tether; and a separator positioned along the tether between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the tether is placed in tension.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
113 words
33 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart; an anchor assembly, releasably carried by the elongate carrier, comprising: an axially shrinkable connector placeable in a second, reduced-length state from a first, extended-length state; and tissue-engageable anchors positioned along the shrinkable connector, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; and a separator positioned along the shrinkable connector between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the shrinkable connector is placed in the second, reduced-length state.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
113 words
33 . An anchor device for use within a patient comprising: an elongate carrier constructed to be passable through a blood vessel and into a heart; an anchor assembly, releasably carried by the elongate carrier, comprising: an axially shrinkable connector placeable in a second, reduced-length state from a first, extended-length state; and tissue-engageable anchors positioned along the shrinkable connector, the anchors comprising a distal anchor, a first intermediate anchor and a proximal anchor; and a separator positioned along the shrinkable connector between adjacent ones of the anchors to restrict how close the adjacent ones of the anchors can come to one another when the shrinkable connector is placed in the second, reduced-length state.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
34 . The anchor device according to claim 33 wherein the anchors are positioned along the carrier.
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