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US6165120A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method

Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC
•
Filing: 2000-04-04
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Granted: 2000-12-26
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Expires: 2020-04-04
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Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for treatment of a failing heart by reducing the wall tension therein. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other. Methods for placing the apparatus on the heart are also provided.

Inventors

  • 👤 Cyril J. Schweich, Jr.
  • 👤 Todd J. Mortier

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 05:15
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2487; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61F2/2481; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/1227; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0404; A61B2017/0417; A61B2017/0427; A61B2017/0429; A61B2017/0435; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0461; A61B17/0469; A61B2017/048; A61B2017/0496; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S623/00; Y10S623/909; Y10S623/91

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim 153 words
A method of placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber, comprising: providing an elongate member with a first anchoring member attached to a first end of the elongate member and a leader member attached to a second end of the elongate member; penetrating a first portion of a heart wall surrounding the heart chamber with a first end of a guide mechanism; advancing the guide mechanism through the heart chamber until the first end and a second end of the guide mechanism are outside the heart chamber and the guide mechanism is transverse the chamber; advancing the leader member and the elongate member along the guide mechanism until the first anchoring member is adjacent the first portion of the heart wall and the elongate member extends transverse the heart chamber; and securing a second anchoring member to the second end of the elongate member adjacent a second portion of a heart wall.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 153 words
A method of placing an elongate member transverse a heart chamber, comprising: providing an elongate member with a first anchoring member attached to a first end of the elongate member and a leader member attached to a second end of the elongate member; penetrating a first portion of a heart wall surrounding the heart chamber with a first end of a guide mechanism; advancing the guide mechanism through the heart chamber until the first end and a second end of the guide mechanism are outside the heart chamber and the guide mechanism is transverse the chamber; advancing the leader member and the elongate member along the guide mechanism until the first anchoring member is adjacent the first portion of the heart wall and the elongate member extends transverse the heart chamber; and securing a second anchoring member to the second end of the elongate member adjacent a second portion of a heart wall.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, wherein providing of the elongate member includes providing an elongate member having a predetermined length between the first and second anchoring members.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising changing the cross-sectional shape of the heart chamber during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle as a result of placing the elongate member transverse the chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing the radius of the heart chamber during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle as a result of placing the elongate member transverse the chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising drawing the first and second portions of the heart walls toward each other during at least a portion of a cardiac cycle as a result of placing the elongate member transverse the chamber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the leader from the elongate member after the elongate member is positioned transverse the chamber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the guide mechanism from the heart chamber after the step of advancing the leader assembly and the elongate member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the guide mechanism is a hollow needle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 52 words
The method of claim 8, wherein the hollow needle defines a lumen, and the step of advancing the leader member and the elongate member along the guide mechanism includes inserting the leader member and the elongate member into the lumen and advancing the leader member and the elongate member through the lumen.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein securing the elongate member to the second anchoring member includes inserting the distal end of the elongate member through an opening defined by the second anchoring member.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising placing a plurality of elongate members transverse a heart chamber, each elongate member including a first anchoring member and a second anchoring member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 1, wherein placing the plurality of elongate members includes placing the elongate members substantially parallel to each other.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 10 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the leader is flexible.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 11 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate member is flexible.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first and second anchoring member each have a disk-like shape.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the heart chamber is the left ventricle.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the guide mechanism penetrates the second portion of the heart wall.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2003-12-26 2004-06-26 2004-12-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2007-12-26 2008-06-26 2008-12-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2011-12-26 2012-06-26 2012-12-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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