Devices and methods for heart valve repair
US8641727B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 3, 2008 |
| Grant date | Feb 4, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 20, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA61F2220/0016
- WIPO fieldMedical technology
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Devices and methods provide enhanced treatment of a cardiac valve annulus. Methods generally involve contacting an anchor delivery device with the valve annulus and releasing a plurality of coupled anchors from the anchor delivery device to secure the anchors to the annulus. Anchors, which in some embodiments are super-elastic or shape memory self-securing anchors, are then drawn together to tighten the annulus. Devices generally include an elongate catheter having a housing at or near the distal end for releasably housing a plurality of coupled anchors. The housing may be flexible, may conform to a valve annulus, and in some embodiments may be coupled with an expandable member to enhance contact of the housing with annular tissue. In one embodiment, self-securing anchors lie approximately flat within the delivery device housing, allowing anchors with relatively large deployed shapes to be housed in and deployed from a relatively narrow delivery device.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.