US2012109289A1PendingUtilityA1

Reconfiguring Heart Features

51
Individually held — no corporate assignee on recordPriority: Jan 8, 2007Filed: Jan 10, 2012Published: May 3, 2012
Est. expiryJan 8, 2027(~0.5 yrs left)· nominal 20-yr term from priority
Inventors:Steven F. Bolling
A61F 2/243A61B 17/00234A61B 17/0401A61B 2017/0647A61B 2017/0414A61F 2/2445A61F 2/2466A61B 17/068A61B 17/0644A61B 2017/00783A61B 2017/12018A61B 2017/00867A61B 2017/00862A61B 2017/00243A61B 2017/0409
51
PatentIndex Score
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Claims

Abstract

Among other things, a heart tissue support has gripping elements, each element having a free end that is sharp enough to penetrate heart tissue when pushed against the tissue, and a feature to resist withdrawal from the tissue after the sharp free end has penetrated the tissue. Among other things, the shape of a heart valve annulus is corrected in a catheter laboratory by orienting a tip of a catheter holding a heart tissue support that has gripping elements at the valve annulus, applying a radial force from the catheter against the annulus by opening a structure at the tip of the catheter, and while the structure is opened, forcing the support onto the annulus. Among other things, the shape of a heart valve annulus is corrected during a surgical procedure by pushing a heart tissue support that has gripping elements onto the annulus.

Claims

exact text as granted — not AI-modified
1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A tool to attach a support to a heart valve annulus, the tool comprising mechanisms to hold the support in an expanded configuration prior to attachment, to expand the heart valve annulus prior to attachment, to enable the attachment of the support in its expanded configuration to the expanded valve annulus, and to release the expanded support to a contracted configuration after the attachment. 
     
     
         38 . The tool of  claim 37  attached to an end of a catheter. 
     
     
         39 . The tool of  claim 37  also comprising an inflatable balloon. 
     
     
         40 . The tool of  claim 39  in which the balloon plays a role in positioning the tool. 
     
     
         41 . The tool of  claim 37  also in which the mechanisms are also to remove the tool from the heart after attachment. 
     
     
         42 . A tool to attach a support to a heart valve annulus, the tool comprising a structure to expand the annulus of the heart to a predetermined shape under control of an operator. 
     
     
         43 . The tool of  claim 42  in which the structure has a conical outer surface at least a portion of which conforms to the predetermined shape. 
     
     
         44 . The tool of  claim 42  in which the structure has an outer surface that can be expanded to the predetermined shape. 
     
     
         45 . The tool of  claim 37  comprising a breakable connection between the tool and the support. 
     
     
         46 . The tool of  claim 45  in which the connection comprises at least one retaining element on an outer surface of the tool. 
     
     
         47 . The tool of  claim 42  comprising rigid projections that splayed from the structure. 
     
     
         48 . A method of attaching a support to a heart valve annulus comprising:
 holding the support in an expanded configuration prior to attachment,   expanding the heart valve annulus prior to attachment,   attaching the support in its expanded configuration to the expanded valve annulus, and   releasing the expanded support to a contracted configuration after the attachment.   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48  performed in a catheter laboratory. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48  comprising inflating a balloon. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 50  in which the balloon plays a role in positioning the support. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 48  comprising breaking a breakable connection attached to the support. 
     
     
         53 . A method of attaching a support to a heart valve annulus comprising:
 expanding a structure of a tool to expand the annulus of the heart to a predetermined shape under control of an operator.   
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  in which the structure has a conical outer surface at least a portion of which conforms to the predetermined shape. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 53  in which the structure has an outer surface that can be expanded to the predetermined shape. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 53  comprising causing rigid projections to splay from the structure.

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