Catheter-Based Annuloplasty System and Method

Abstract

A catheter-based annuloplasty system for use in repairing a heart valve having leaflets and a valve annulus, includes a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end, and an expandable stent disposed on the distal end of the catheter. An adjustable annuloplasty ring is disposed on the expandable stent and is configured to expand and contract in response to expansion and contraction of the stent.

1 . A catheter-based annuloplasty system for use in repairing a heart valve having leaflets and a valve annulus, comprising:
 a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;   an expandable stent disposed on the distal end of the catheter; and   an adjustable annuloplasty ring disposed on the expandable stent configured to expand and contract in response to expansion and contraction of the stent, wherein the adjustable ring includes at least one tissue attachment member configured to be attached to the valve annulus via movement of the expandable stent.   
     
     
         2 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable ring includes a plurality of tissue attachment members shaped for penetration into the valve annulus and configured to be triggered from a spring-loaded tensioned state to a relaxed state. 
     
     
         3 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 2 , wherein each tissue attachment member comprises:
 a first prong portion extending from a first circular spring portion;   a second prong portion extending from a second circular spring portion; and   a cross-member connecting the first and second circular spring portions.   
     
     
         4 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 3 , wherein the adjustable ring extends through the first and second circular spring portions of each of the tissue attachment members. 
     
     
         5 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 3 , wherein the cross-member includes a feature configured to be connected to hold the adjustable ring adjacent to the expandable stent. 
     
     
         6 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 2 , and further comprising:
 a plurality of tissue attachment retaining members disposed on the expandable stent and configured to hold the tissue attachment members in the tensioned state.   
     
     
         7 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 6 , wherein the tissue attachment retaining members are configured to release the tissue attachment members from the tensioned state when the adjustable ring is adjacent to the valve annulus, thereby causing the tissue attachment members to transition to the relaxed state and anchor the adjustable ring to the valve annulus. 
     
     
         8 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 7 , wherein the adjustable ring is configured to be adjusted in size after the adjustable ring has been anchored to the valve annulus. 
     
     
         9 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 6 , wherein the tissue attachment retaining members are formed of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         10 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 1 , wherein the adjustable ring comprises a plurality of interconnected cylindrically-shaped ring segments. 
     
     
         11 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the ring segments includes a plurality of tabs that extend away from a body of the segment parallel to a surface of the adjustable ring. 
     
     
         12 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 11 , wherein adjacent ones of the tabs in each ring segment are separated by a gap, and wherein each tab of each segment is positioned within one of the gaps of an adjacent segment. 
     
     
         13 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 10 , wherein axial twisting of the adjustable ring causes a separation between adjacent segments and an increase in an internal diameter of the adjustable ring. 
     
     
         14 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 10 , wherein a first end of the ring is co-axially aligned with and inserted into a second end of the ring. 
     
     
         15 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 14 , wherein contraction of the stent causes the first end of the ring to extend farther into the second end of the ring, thereby reducing an overall diameter of the adjustable ring. 
     
     
         16 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 15 , and further comprising a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable ring and thereby prevent further size adjustments to the ring. 
     
     
         17 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 16 , wherein the locking mechanism is configured to lock a surface of the adjustable ring between asymmetrical lumens within the locking mechanism. 
     
     
         18 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is a self-expanding stent formed of a shape memory material. 
     
     
         19 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 1 , wherein the stent is a self-expanding NITINOL™ framework. 
     
     
         20 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to be used off-pump to repair the heart valve of a beating heart. 
     
     
         21 . A catheter-based annuloplasty system for use in repairing a heart valve having a valve annulus, comprising:
 a delivery catheter having a proximal end and a distal end;   a stent disposed on the distal end of the catheter;   a ring positioned on the stent; and   a plurality of tissue attachment members attached to the ring, the tissue attachment members shaped for penetration into the valve annulus and configured to be triggered from a spring-loaded tensioned state to a relaxed state via movement of the stent.   
     
     
         22 . The annuloplasty system of  claim 21 , wherein each tissue attachment member comprises:
 a first prong portion extending from a first circular spring portion;   a second prong portion extending from a second circular spring portion;   a cross-member connecting the first and second circular spring portions; and   wherein the ring extends through the first and second circular spring portions of each of the tissue attachment members.   
     
     
         23 . A method of repairing a heart valve comprising leaflets and a valve annulus, the method comprising:
 delivering a ring having tissue attachment members to a location adjacent to the heart valve via a catheter;   extending a stent outside of the catheter, thereby causing the ring to be positioned adjacent to the valve annulus; and   triggering the tissue attachment members via the stent, thereby causing the ring to be anchored to the valve annulus   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the ring is an adjustable ring and the stent is a self-expanding stent, and wherein the method further comprises:
 contracting the self expanding stent after the adjustable ring is anchored to the valve annulus, thereby causing a reduction in size of the adjustable ring and the valve annulus; and   triggering a locking mechanism on the adjustable ring after causing the reduction in size of the adjustable ring to maintain the reduced size of the ring.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the method is performed off-pump to repair the heart valve of a beating heart.