Rvot wire capturing (rwc) system in mitral valve cerclage annuloplasty

Abstract

A mitral cerclage annuloplasty apparatus comprising of a catheter with a blocking member and a capturing member. The blocking member is in the shape of a pigtail or a balloon, and is configured on the distal portion of the catheter preventing the catheter from traversing through an unsafe zone thereby enabling the catheter to pass through the safe zone. This prevents damage to critical cardiac tissues. The capturing member is adapted for puffing out a RVOT cerclage wire into the IVC, and comprises of an expandable and collapsible mesh so that the RVOT cerclage wire is captured and directed into the IVC through the safe zone. Thus the RVOT cerclage wire is passed through the RV without damaging the heart tissue forming a complete circle around the mitral valvular annulus.

1 . A capture catheter comprising:
 a catheter having a distal end; and   an expandable capturing means mounted on the catheter, wherein the capturing means consists of an expandable open mesh.   
     
     
         2 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the mesh is radio-opaque or comprises a radio-opaque marker. 
     
     
         3 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the shape of the open mesh consists of a D-shape. 
     
     
         4 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein one side of the mesh has a greater radius of curvature than the other when the mesh is in an expanded configuration. 
     
     
         5 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein there is no covering over the open mesh. 
     
     
         6 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein there is no element covering over the open mesh. 
     
     
         7 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising a control configured for expanding and collapsing the mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The catheter of  claim 1 , further comprising an inflatable balloon mounted on the catheter at a location distal to the expandable capturing means, wherein the inflatable balloon has an inflated diameter of one centimeter or greater. 
     
     
         9 . The catheter of  claim 1 , wherein the catheter has a lumen.