Papillary Muscle Position Control Devices, Systems, And Methods

Abstract

Papillary muscle position control devices, systems, and methods are provided. A papillary muscle position control device generally includes a first anchor, a second anchor, and a support structure. The first anchor can be configured to fixedly connect to an in-situ valve of a heart ventricle. The second anchor can be configured to fixedly connect to a muscle wall of the valve. The support structure can be configured to have an adjustable length and be coupled to the first anchor and second anchor such that adjusting the length of the support structure varies a distance between the first anchor and the second anchor.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A papillary muscle system comprising:
 an exterior pad positionable exterior a heart valve wall;   a papillary muscle support structure extending from the exterior pad to a control portion of a papillary muscle of the heart; and   a papillary muscle adjustment mechanism proximate the exterior pad for lockably adjusting, while the heart is beating, a distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a tension control member; and   a tension member located between the exterior pad and the tension control member;   wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the tension control member to the control portion of the papillary muscle of the heart; and   wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle is adjustable via the tension control member.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure further extends through the exterior pad and the tension member; and
 wherein tension in the tension member is adjustable by the tension control member.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising an interior papillary muscle pad proximate the control portion of the papillary muscle;
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the interior papillary muscle pad; and 
 wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the exterior pad and the interior papillary muscle pad. 
 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends through a portion of the papillary muscle between the heart valve wall and the control portion. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure has an exterior pad end and a papillary muscle end, wherein the papillary muscle end is cooperatively shaped to engage the control portion of the papillary muscle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a first anchor configured to fixedly connect to an in-situ heart valve situated in the heart between a heart ventricle and atrium;
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the first anchor; and 
 wherein the adjustment mechanism additionally lockably adjusts a distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle. 
 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle, and the distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle, are interpedently adjustable one from the another. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a tension control member; and   a tension member located between the exterior pad and the tension control member;   wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the tension control member to the control portion of the papillary muscle of the heart; and   wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle is adjustable via the tension control member.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure further extends through the exterior pad and the tension member; and
 wherein tension in the tension member is adjustable by the tension control member.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7  further comprising an interior papillary muscle pad proximate the control portion of the papillary muscle;
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the interior papillary muscle pad; and 
 wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the exterior pad and the interior papillary muscle pad. 
 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends through a portion of the papillary muscle between the heart valve wall and the control portion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first anchor configured to fixedly connect to an in-situ heart valve situated in the heart between a heart ventricle and atrium; and 
 an anchor adjustment mechanism proximate the first anchor configured to lockably adjust a distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle; 
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the first anchor. 
 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle, and the distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle, are interpedently adjustable one from the another. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a tension control member; and   a tension member located between the exterior pad and the tension control member;   wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the tension control member to the control portion of the papillary muscle of the heart; and   wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle is adjustable via the tension control member.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure further extends through the exterior pad and the tension member; and
 wherein tension in the tension member is adjustable by the tension control member.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13  further comprising an interior papillary muscle pad proximate the control portion of the papillary muscle;
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the interior papillary muscle pad; and 
 wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the exterior pad and the interior papillary muscle pad. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends through a portion of the papillary muscle between the heart valve wall and the control portion. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a first anchor configured to fixedly connect to an in-situ heart valve situated in the heart between a heart ventricle and atrium; 
 an anchor support structure coupled between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle; and 
 an anchor adjustment mechanism proximate the first anchor configured to lockably adjust via the anchor support structure a distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle. 
 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle, and the distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle, are interpedently adjustable one from the another. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism comprises:
 a tension control member; and   a tension member located between the exterior pad and the tension control member;   wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the tension control member to the control portion of the papillary muscle of the heart; and   wherein the distance between the exterior pad and the control portion of the papillary muscle is adjustable via the tension control member.   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure further extends through the exterior pad and the tension member; and
 wherein tension in the tension member is adjustable by the tension control member.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising an interior papillary muscle pad proximate the control portion of the papillary muscle;
 wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends from the exterior pad to the interior papillary muscle pad; and 
 wherein the papillary muscle adjustment mechanism adjusts a distance between the exterior pad and the interior papillary muscle pad. 
 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the papillary muscle support structure extends through a portion of the papillary muscle between the heart valve wall and the control portion. 
     
     
         25 . A papillary muscle system comprising:
 a first anchor configured to fixedly connect to an in-situ heart valve situated in a heart between a heart ventricle and atrium;   a second anchor configured to fixedly connect to at least one of a ventricular wall and a papillary muscle of the heart;   a support structure extending from the first anchor to a control portion of a papillary muscle of the heart, and from the control portion of the papillary muscle to the second anchor;   an anchor adjustment mechanism proximate the first anchor configured to lockably adjust, while the heart is beating, a distance between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle; and   a papillary muscle adjustment mechanism proximate the second anchor to lockably adjust, while the heart is beating, a distance between the second anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle.   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the support structure comprises:
 an anchor support structure coupled between the first anchor and the control portion of the papillary muscle; and   a papillary muscle support structure extending from the second anchor to the control portion of the papillary muscle of the heart;   wherein the anchor support structure is independent from the papillary muscle support structure.   
     
     
         27 . A method for treating a diseased heart comprising:
 positioning a first anchor in proximity to a diseased portion of a heart;   positioning a second anchor in proximity to a second portion of the heart;   adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor while the heart is beating;   monitoring an effect of adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor on the beating heart; and   locking the distance between first anchor and the second anchor.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the diseased portion of the heart is a heart valve; and
 wherein the second portion of the heart is an exterior of the ventricular wall.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein monitoring an effect of adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises monitoring valve regurgitation. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising extending a support structure between the first anchor and the second anchor;
 wherein adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises adjusting the length of the support structure between the first anchor and the second anchor. 
 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 28  further comprising:
 extending a support structure from the first anchor before positioning the second anchor; and 
 extending the support structure to the second anchor before adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor; 
 wherein adjusting the distance between the first anchor and the second anchor comprises adjusting the length of the support structure between the first anchor and the second anchor. 
 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising fixing a first end of the support structure to the first anchor before positioning the second anchor.