US6913608B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automated annular plication for mitral valve repair
Assignee: Ancora Heart Inc
•
Filing: 2001-10-23
•
Granted: 2005-07-05
•
Expires: 2021-10-23
Abstract
Abstract A novel system for performing a heart valve annuloplasty. The system involves the use of a plication band. In one embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by constriction of the plication band itself. More particularly, each plication band enters the tissue at two or more points which are spaced from one other by a distance which is dictated by the geometry of the plication band. Subsequent constriction of the plication band causes these points to move toward each other, thereby constricting the tissue trapped between these points and thus reducing the overall circumference of the valve annulus. In a second embodiment, the annulus of the valve is reduced by linking multiple plication bands to one other, using a linkage construct, and then using a shortening of the length of the linkage construct between each plication band so as to gather the tissue between each plication band, whereby to reduce the overall circumference of the valve annulus.
Inventors
- 👤 John R. Liddicoat
- 👤 Gregory H. Lambrecht
- 👤 Richard B. Streeter
- 👤 Steven B. Woolfson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:11
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2442; A61F2/2445; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/00234; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/064; A61B17/0644; A61B17/068; A61B17/0682; A61B17/0684; A61B17/0466; A61B2017/00004; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00778; A61B2017/00783; A61B2017/0414; A61B2017/0496; A61B2017/0641; A61F2/2454
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for effecting a desired geometric change in the annulus of a heart valve and limiting mitral leaflet prolapse, said apparatus comprising: first and second plication bands, each said plication band comprising: first and second substantially straight and parallel legs, each having a first end, the first ends of said first and second legs being adapted to pierce heart valve tissue; and a bridge having first and second ends, the first end of said bridge being connected to said first leg and the second end of said bridge being connected to said second leg, such that the first ends of said first and second legs are separated by a first distance; said bridge being configured such that when the first ends of said first and second legs have pierced tissue at the first distance, said bridge is deformable so as to cause the first ends of said first and second legs to each move toward the other so as to thereafter be opposed to each other first end-to-first end with a distance of less than the first distance therebetween, whereby said first and second legs gather together pierced tissue to effect a contraction of the annulus of the heart valve; and an elongated linking strip having first and second ends and connected proximate the first end thereof to said first plication band and proximate the second end thereof to said second plication band, the linking strip being adapted to extend across the annulus of the heart valve and to draw the first and second plication bands toward each other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
Apparatus for effecting a desired geometric change in the annulus of a heart valve and limiting mitral leaflet prolapse, said apparatus comprising: first and second plication bands, each said plication band comprising: first and second substantially straight and parallel legs, each having a first end, the first ends of said first and second legs being adapted to pierce heart valve tissue; and a bridge having first and second ends, the first end of said bridge being connected to said first leg and the second end of said bridge being connected to said second leg, such that the first ends of said first and second legs are separated by a first distance; said bridge being configured such that when the first ends of said first and second legs have pierced tissue at the first distance, said bridge is deformable so as to cause the first ends of said first and second legs to each move toward the other so as to thereafter be opposed to each other first end-to-first end with a distance of less than the first distance therebetween, whereby said first and second legs gather together pierced tissue to effect a contraction of the annulus of the heart valve; and an elongated linking strip having first and second ends and connected proximate the first end thereof to said first plication band and proximate the second end thereof to said second plication band, the linking strip being adapted to extend across the annulus of the heart valve and to draw the first and second plication bands toward each other.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
283 words
A method for effecting a desired geometric change in the annulus of a heart valve and limiting mitral leaflet prolapse, said method comprising the steps of: providing apparatus for effecting a contraction in the annulus of the heart valve, the apparatus comprising: first and second plication bands, each plication band comprising: first and second substantially straight and parallel legs, each having a first end, the first ends of said first and second legs being adapted to pierce heart valve tissue; and a bridge having first and second ends, the first end of said bridge being connected to said first leg and the second end of said bridge being connected to said second leg, such that the first ends of said first and second legs are separated by a first distance; said bridge being configured such that when the first ends of said first and second legs have pierced tissue at the first distance, said bridge is deformable so as to cause the first ends of said first and second legs each to move toward one another so as to thereafter be separated by a second, shorter distance, whereby said first and second legs gather together pierced tissue to effect the contraction in the annulus of the heart valve; and a linking construct connected proximate a first end thereof to said first plication band and proximate a second end thereof to said second plication band; deploying the first plication band in a first portion of tissue; and deploying the second plication band in a second portion of tissue such that the linking construct extends across a mouth of the valve and draws the first and second portions of tissue together, thereby limiting leaflet prolapse.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
283 words
A method for effecting a desired geometric change in the annulus of a heart valve and limiting mitral leaflet prolapse, said method comprising the steps of: providing apparatus for effecting a contraction in the annulus of the heart valve, the apparatus comprising: first and second plication bands, each plication band comprising: first and second substantially straight and parallel legs, each having a first end, the first ends of said first and second legs being adapted to pierce heart valve tissue; and a bridge having first and second ends, the first end of said bridge being connected to said first leg and the second end of said bridge being connected to said second leg, such that the first ends of said first and second legs are separated by a first distance; said bridge being configured such that when the first ends of said first and second legs have pierced tissue at the first distance, said bridge is deformable so as to cause the first ends of said first and second legs each to move toward one another so as to thereafter be separated by a second, shorter distance, whereby said first and second legs gather together pierced tissue to effect the contraction in the annulus of the heart valve; and a linking construct connected proximate a first end thereof to said first plication band and proximate a second end thereof to said second plication band; deploying the first plication band in a first portion of tissue; and deploying the second plication band in a second portion of tissue such that the linking construct extends across a mouth of the valve and draws the first and second portions of tissue together, thereby limiting leaflet prolapse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4505273A
Cited
US4841960A
Cited
US5236440A
Cited
US5540716A
Cited
US5450860A
Cited
US5709695A
Cited
US5716370A
Cited
US6482224B1
Cited
US5947999A
Cited
US5993476A
Cited
US6203553B1
Cited
US20030120340A1
Cited
US20030171776A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-07-04 | 2009-01-03 | 2009-07-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-07-04 | 2013-01-03 | 2013-07-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-07-04 | 2017-01-03 | 2017-07-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |