Apparatus for atrioventricular valve repair

Abstract

Apparatus for use in repairing an atrioventricular valve in a patient is provided. The apparatus comprises a fastening mechanism for use in repairing a mitral valve in the heart of a patient. The mechanism includes a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween. The mechanism is configured to be positioned in the patient's heart using at least one of a guide catheter and an interventional tool that positions the fastening mechanism without penetrating a myocardium. The first end is configured to couple to the valve leaflet while the heart is non-arrested. The second end is configured to couple to a structure other than the valve leaflet, such that the mechanism remains coupled within the heart after being coupled within the heart and simulates the function of a natural chordae.

1 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A medical kit for use in repairing a mitral valve, said kit comprising:
 a guide catheter configured for insertion along the arterial system of the patient to approach the mitral valve without penetrating through a myocardium; and   a fastening mechanism positionable endovascularly within the patient's heart using said guide catheter, said fastening mechanism comprising a first end and an opposite second end, said first end configured to couple to a leaflet of the mitral valve using one of fusing, gluing, stapling, clipping, riveting, anchoring, and suturing, said second end configured to only couple to a cardiac structure other than a valve leaflet to facilitate enhancing operation of the valve during ventricular systole, said fastening mechanism configured to remain securely coupled to the mitral valve leaflet and to and to at least one of a ventricular wall adjacent the atrioventricular valve, a papillary muscle, and a valve annulus, such that the fastening mechanism simulates the function of a native chordae after the guide catheter has been removed from the patient.   
     
     
         33 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein at least one of said fastening mechanism first and second ends comprises an anchor member comprising at least two arms. 
     
     
         34 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein at least a portion of said fastening mechanism is braided. 
     
     
         35 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said fastening mechanism comprises at least one loop. 
     
     
         36 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein one of said fastening mechanism first end and said fastening mechanism second end comprises a helical coil. 
     
     
         37 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said guide catheter comprises one of a mitral leaflet catheter, a cinching device, and a papillary muscle catheter. 
     
     
         38 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said fastening mechanism is fabricated from at least one of a superelastic material, and a shaped memory alloy material. 
     
     
         39 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein one end of said fastening mechanism comprises a clip configured to couple to an edge of the mitral valve. 
     
     
         40 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein one end of said fastening mechanism comprises at least one adjustable loop. 
     
     
         41 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said fastening mechanism first end is configured to couple to the mitral valve leaflet while the patient's heart remains beating. 
     
     
         42 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 41  wherein said fastening mechanism second end is configured to couple to at least one of a ventricular wall adjacent the atrioventricular valve, a papillary muscle, and a valve annulus, while the patient's heart remains beating. 
     
     
         43 . A medical kit in accordance with  claim 32  wherein said fastening mechanism first end is sized to extend at least partially through an opening formed in the mitral valve leaflet. 
     
     
         44 . A fastening mechanism for use in repairing a mitral valve in the heart of a patient by correcting an insufficiency of a valve leaflet of the mitral valve, wherein the valve is connected to at least one natural chordae, said fastening mechanism comprising:
 a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween, said fastening mechanism configured to be positioned in the patient's heart using at least one of a guide catheter and an interventional tool that positions the fastening mechanism without penetrating a myocardium, said first end configured to couple to the valve leaflet while the heart is non-arrested, said second end configured to couple to a structure other than the valve leaflet, such that said fastening mechanism remains coupled within the heart after the at least one of a guide catheter and an interventional tool has been removed from the patient and simulates the function of a natural chordae.   
     
     
         45 . The fastening mechanism in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said fastening mechanism is fabricated from at least one of a superelastic material, and a shaped memory alloy material, said fastening mechanism facilitates reducing leakage through the patient's mitral valve. 
     
     
         46 . The fastening mechanism in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said fastening mechanism first end is configured to be at least one of fused, sutured, riveted, glued, and stapled to the mitral valve leaflet. 
     
     
         47 . The fastening mechanism in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said fastening mechanism second end is configured to be coupled to a cardiac structure other than the mitral valve leaflet via a fusing, a gluing, a riveting, and a stapling operation. 
     
     
         48 . The fastening mechanism in accordance with  claim 44  wherein said second end of the fastening mechanism is configured to be threadably coupled to the cardiac structure.