Apparatus for applying a compressive load on body tissue

US8075616B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES CORPORATION · US

Inventors

• Jan Otto Solem · Bjärred, SE
• Per Ola Kimblad · Lund, SE
• Randolf von Oepen · Los Altos, US
• Bodo Quint · Oberglatt, CH
• Gerd Seibold · Herrenberg, DE
• Kenneth J. Michlitsch · Livermore, US
• Suk-Woo Ha · Langwiesen, CH
• Karl-Ludwig Eckert · Sterling Heights, US
• Ib Joergensen · Haigerloch, DE
• Stevan Nielsen · Rottenberg, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 20, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 13, 2011
• Expiry date: Aug 1, 2025

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A61F2210/0004
• WIPO field: Medical technology
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A device for reshaping a cardiac valve (26), which is elongate and has such dimensions as to be insertable into a cardiac vessel (24). The device has two states, in a first state (K) of which the device has a shape that is adaptable to the shape of the vessel (24), and to the second state (k′) of which the device is transferable from said first state (K). Further, the device comprises a fixing means (22,23;22a,23a) for fixing the ends of the device within the vessel (24), when the device is first positioned therein, a shape-changing member (20;20a) for transferring the device to the second state (K′) by reshaping it, and a delay means (21;21a) for delaying said reshaping until the fixing of the ends of the device has been reinforced by keeping said device in said first state (K) until the delay means (21;21a) is resorbed.