Annuloplasty Device Having Shape-Adjusting Tension Filaments

Abstract

A system for treating mitral valve regurgitation includes a tensioning device having a flexible annuloplasty ring, a plurality of anchoring members and a tensioning filament attached to the flexible ring. One embodiment of the invention includes a method for attaching a flexible annuloplasty ring to the annulus of a mitral valve, and adjusting the lengths of segments of the tension filament attached to the flexible ring in order to exert force vectors on the annulus, thereby reshaping the mitral valve annulus so that the anterior and posterior leaflets of the mitral valve close completely during ventricular contraction.

1 - 13 . (canceled) 
   
   
       14 . A tensioning device for treating mitral valve regurgitation comprising:
 a flexible ring, a plurality of anchoring members disposed about the flexible ring, and a tensioning filament attached to the flexible ring;   wherein when the tensioning device is preloaded into a catheter, and delivered proximate the mitral valve, the tensioning device is deployed, the anchoring members are embedded into an annulus of the mitral valve and the tensioning filament is adjusted, the shape of the annulus is changed.   
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the flexible ring has a D-shaped planar configuration and a constrained configuration. 
   
   
       16 . The device of  claim 14  wherein the anchoring members are barbs positioned between 10 and 45 degrees to the plane of the flexible ring. 
   
   
       17 . The device of  claim 16  further comprising a series of cleats disposed about the flexible ring wherein each cleat is paired with a barb and each cleat/barb pair is located at the same planar point on the flexible ring. 
   
   
       18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the tensioning filament is slidably attached to each cleat. 
   
   
       19 . The device of  claim 18  wherein when the tensioning filament is adjusted at each cleat, force vectors are exerted on the mitral annulus and cause the shape of the mitral annulus to change. 
   
   
       20 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the tensioning filament is attached to each cleat using at least one hole through the cleat.