Apparatus and methods for valve removal

Abstract

This invention discloses a medical catheter and methods for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally. The method may comprise inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve; deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet; deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and removing said defective valve from the patient.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for removing a defective valve from a patient, the method comprising: 
 immobilizing at least a valve leaflet of said defective valve;    separating a valve base from a valve root of the defective valve, wherein the valve base comprises at least one commissure; and    removing said defective valve.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein a step of immobilizing the at least one valve leaflet comprises coupling a free edge of the at least one valve leaflet using a coupling mechanism of an endoluminal catheter, wherein said catheter has a cutting mechanism for separating the valve base from the valve root of said defective valve.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the cutting mechanism is located at a distal section of said catheter and configured to be at a predetermined position relative to the coupling mechanism.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the defective valve is a venous valve.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the defective valve is a cardiac valve.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the cardiac valve is an aortic valve.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the cardiac valve is a pulmonary valve.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 5 , wherein the cardiac valve is a tricuspid valve.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the cutting mechanism is a sharp-edge element configured to separate the valve base from the valve root of the defective valve.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 10 , wherein a radiofrequency source is coupled to the sharp-edge element configured for heating and cutting said valve base.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the method is performed by an endoluminal procedure.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 2 , wherein the cutting mechanism is a fiber optic laser element configured to separate the valve base from the valve root of the defective valve.  
     
     
         14 . A medical catheter for removing a defective valve from a patient comprising: 
 an elongate catheter shaft having a catheter distal end, a catheter distal section, a catheter proximal end, and at least a lumen between said catheter distal end and said catheter proximal end;    a deployable inner catheter located within one of said at least a lumen;    a coupling mechanism located at the catheter distal section configured to grip and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet of the defective valve; and    a cutting mechanism mounted at a distal end of the deployable inner catheter, wherein the cutting mechanism is configured to cut and separate a valve base of said defective valve from a valve root of said defective valve.    
     
     
         15 . The medical catheter according to  claim 14 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a stapling element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said stapling element.  
     
     
         16 . The medical catheter according to  claim 14 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gripping element configured to couple a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gripping element.  
     
     
         17 . The medical catheter according to  claim 14 , wherein the coupling mechanism comprises a gluing element configured to glue and bond a free edge of said at least one valve leaflet onto said gluing element.  
     
     
         18 . The medical catheter according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a sharp-edge element, and wherein a radiofrequency source is coupled to said sharp-edge element adapted for enhancing separation of the valve base of said defective valve.  
     
     
         19 . The medical catheter according to  claim 14 , wherein the cutting mechanism comprises a fiber optic laser element, and wherein a laser energy source is coupled to said fiber optic laser element adapted for separating the valve base of said defective valve.  
     
     
         20 . A method for removing a defective valve from a patient endoluminally, the method comprising: 
 (a) inserting a medical catheter endoluminally to a site of the defective valve;    (b) deploying a coupling mechanism of said medical catheter to stabilize and immobilize a free edge of at least one valve leaflet;    (c) deploying a cutting mechanism of said medical catheter to cut a valve base of said defective valve; and    (d) removing said defective valve from the patient.    
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the defective valve is a venous valve.  
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 20 , wherein the defective valve is a cardiac valve.