Distal anchor apparatus and methods for mitral valve repair

US10765515B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND, BALTIMORE · US
• Harpoon Medical, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Michael Nicholas D'ambra · Little Compton, US
• Felino V. Cortez, JR. · Bowie, US
• James S. Gammie · Pikesville, US
• Peter Wilson · Foster City, US
• Stephen Epstein · Baltimore, US
• Stephen Cournane · Severn, US
• Julie Marie Etheridge · Ellicott City, US
• Peter Boyd · Mississauga, CA

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 11, 2018
• Grant date: Sep 8, 2020
• Expiry date: Aug 4, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2/246
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Described herein are devices and methods for mitral valve repair. The devices and methods implant a plurality of distal anchors at an annulus of the mitral valve (e.g., the posterior annulus) and tension artificial chordae to pull the portion of the annulus toward an opposite edge and inward into the ventricle. This can effectively reduce the size of the orifice and increase coaptation. The anchor points of the artificial chordae can be offset from the apex of the heart to achieve a targeted force vector on the annulus. In addition, some embodiments include distal anchors implanted in the posterior leaflet in addition to those at the posterior annulus. This allows differential tensioning to be applied to provide for greater flexibility in treating various configurations of mitral valves to improve coaptation.