Systems and methods for deploying a cardiac anchor
Inventors
Van Bladel, Kevin • Moshe, Meir • Dana, Michael S.
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11185414-B2
Publication Date
2021-11-30
Expiration Date
Abstract
A heart implant alignment and delivery device includes an elongate body having an opening that is disposed near a distal end of the elongate body. The opening is configured so that a heart implant is positionable within the opening with the heart implant exposed to a surrounding environment and so that the heart implant is substantially aligned with the distal end of the elongate body. The device also includes an implant reposition member, such as a cable, that is releasably coupleable with the heart implant and that is operationally coupled with the elongate body so that a first operation of the implant reposition member causes the heart implant to be retractably deployed from the opening of the elongate body. The first operation of the implant reposition member may be effected via a handle mechanism that is attached to a proximal end of the elongate body.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a catheter for delivering and aligning a heart implant about a wall of a heart. The catheter includes an elongate body with a lumen disposed through the elongate body and an opening formed within a distal end or cylindrical wall so that the opening is adjacent a wall of the heart. A cable is positioned within the lumen and is slidably positioned on proximal and distal sides of the opening while being releasably coupleable with the heart implant.
Advancing the cable distally within the lumen causes the cable and heart implant to pivot or flex outward through the opening so that the coupled portion is disposed outward through the opening to contact the heart wall. Retracting the cable proximally within the lumen retracts the heart implant back toward the opening for repositioning and alignment, including configuring the catheter so that a distal advancement of the cable within the lumen causes pivoting or flexing outward through the opening.
Deployment can include a permanently deployed state in which the cable deployment mechanism detaches so that the heart implant is permanently deployed. The invention also includes a configuration that prevents the cable from extending through the catheter distal tip by plugging or capping the distal tip, thereby causing buckling or flexing that drives the outward deployment.
Claims Coverage
The partial content includes three independent claims. Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a cable positioned in a catheter lumen, distal advancement causing pivot or flex outward through a distal opening, and retraction behavior while maintaining coaxial alignment of the distal cable end, with confined distal cable movement in multiple claims.
Cable-positioned catheter with distal opening for outward pivot or flex
The catheter includes an elongate body with a lumen disposed through the elongate body, an opening formed within a distal end of the elongate body, and a cable positioned within the lumen so the cable is slidably positioned on a proximal side of the opening and on a distal side of the opening, wherein the cable is releasably coupleable with the heart implant and a distal advancement of the cable within the lumen causes the cable to pivot or flex outward through the opening.
Confined distal cable end and retractable coaxial alignment
The catheter includes an elongate body with a lumen and an opening within a distal end of the elongate body, and a cable positioned within the lumen so that a distal end of the cable is confined within a distal end of the elongate body to cause the cable to pivot or flex outward through the opening when the cable is slid distally, and wherein the cable is retractable within the lumen while the distal end of the cable is coaxially aligned with the lumen.
Deploying by positioning adjacent the heart wall, advancing outward pivot/flex, and proximal retraction with coaxial distal alignment
A method for deploying a heart implant from a catheter including an elongate body having a cylindrical wall with a lumen, an opening formed in the cylindrical wall, and a cable operably coupled with the heart implant, comprising positioning a distal end of the elongate body within a chamber of a heart so the opening is adjacent a wall of the heart, advancing the cable distally to cause the cable and heart anchor to pivot or flex outward through the opening, and retracting the cable proximally within the lumen while a distal end of the cable is coaxially aligned with the lumen.
The independent-claim coverage focuses on catheter designs in which a slideable cable is coupled to a heart implant and distal advancement causes outward pivoting or flexing through a distal opening, with additional structural relationships including confined distal cable movement. The method claim ties the same catheter configuration to deploying into a heart chamber by positioning the opening adjacent a heart wall, advancing the cable outward, and retracting the cable proximally while maintaining coaxial alignment of the distal cable end.
Stated Advantages
Improved physician control.
Avoidance of contact with sensitive cardiac tissues including chordae, papillary leaflets, and the tricuspid valve.
Documented Applications
Deployment and alignment of a heart implant, including right-ventricle deployment with the catheter opening adjacent a wall of the heart.
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