US6406420B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methods and devices for improving cardiac function in hearts
Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences LLC
•
Filing: 1999-10-21
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Granted: 2002-06-18
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Expires: 2019-10-21
Abstract
Abstract Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.
Inventors
- 👤 Patrick M. McCarthy
- 👤 Cyril J. Schweich, Jr.
- 👤 Todd J. Mortier
- 👤 Peter T. Keith
- 👤 Michael J. Kallok
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 05:33
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2478; A61F2/2487; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/04; A61B17/0487; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/1227; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B17/0401; A61B2017/0404; A61B2017/0427; A61B2017/0435; A61B2017/0445; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0454; A61B2017/0458; A61B2017/0464; A61B17/0469; A61B2017/048; A61B2017/0496; A61B90/00; A61B90/39; A61B2090/392; A61F2/2481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to reduce the radius of curvature of a wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
67 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to reduce the radius of curvature of a wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of positioning said anchor members exterior to the chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said heart chamber comprises healthy tissue adjacent said infarcted tissue and each of said anchor members are positioned exterior to the heart chamber approximately between said healthy and infarcted tissue.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of said anchors is positioned on a septum wall of the heart.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein one of said anchors is positioned on the infarcted tissue.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 , wherein said infarcted tissue is located in a region of a left ventricle of the heart proximal a mitral valve and said tension member draws papillary muscles of the mitral valve together.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said tension member is curved between said anchor members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the positioning step includes positioning said tension member diametrically across the infarcted tissue.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: positioning a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to draw walls containing the infarcted tissue together.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
58 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: positioning a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to draw walls containing the infarcted tissue together.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising the step of positioning said anchor members exterior to the chamber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said heart chamber comprises healthy tissue adjacent said infarcted tissue and each of said anchor members are positioned exterior to the heart chamber approximately between said healthy and infarcted tissue.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein one of said anchors is positioned on a septum wall of the heart.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein one of said anchors is positioned on the infarcted tissue.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said infarcted tissue is located in a basal region of a left ventricle of the heart proximal a mitral valve and said tension member draws papillary muscles of the mitral valve together.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said tension member is curved between said anchor members.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the positioning step includes positioning said tension member diametrically across the infarcted tissue.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; positioning one of said anchor members on an outer wall of the infarcted tissue; and positioning said tension member through the heart chamber such that the infarcted tissue is drawn toward an interior of the heart chamber.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; positioning one of said anchor members on an outer wall of the infarcted tissue; and positioning said tension member through the heart chamber such that the infarcted tissue is drawn toward an interior of the heart chamber.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein positioning said anchor member includes positioning said anchor member substantially at a center of the infarcted tissue.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of positioning the other of said anchor members on an outer wall of the heart chamber located approximately opposite to the infarcted tissue, with the tension member extending transverse to the chamber between said anchor members.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: removing the infarcted tissue; suturing the chamber wall separated as a result of said removing step; providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to reduce a radius of curvature of the chamber wall proximal to the suturing.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
80 words
A method of treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: removing the infarcted tissue; suturing the chamber wall separated as a result of said removing step; providing a tension member having a first end and a second end, each of said ends provided with an anchor member; and positioning said tension member transverse to said chamber to reduce a radius of curvature of the chamber wall proximal to the suturing.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
86 words
The method of claim 20 , wherein the infarcted tissue includes a first region having infarcted tissue that extends through an entire wall thickness of the heart chamber and a second region, adjacent said first region, having infarcted tissue that does not extend through the entire wall thickness, and said removing step includes removing the infarcted tissue from the second region so that a thin wall region of the heart chamber remains, and said positioning step includes positioning said tension member transverse the thin wall region.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein said heart chamber comprises regions of thick walls adjacent said thin wall region and said anchor members are positioned on the outer wall of the heart approximately between said thick wall regions and said thin wall regions.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: deforming a wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue such that a radius of curvature of the wall is reduced.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in a chamber thereof, comprising the steps of: deforming a wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue such that a radius of curvature of the wall is reduced.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein deforming the wall also reduces the radius of curvature of the wall in non-infarcted tissue zones located adjacent to the infarcted zones.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein deforming the wall includes positioning a splint with respect to the heart chamber.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2005-06-17 | 2005-12-17 | 2006-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2009-06-17 | 2009-12-17 | 2010-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2013-06-17 | 2013-12-17 | 2014-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |