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Publication Number
US-11253247-B2
Publication Date
2022-02-22
Expiration Date
Abstract
A catheter device for heart repair comprises a leaflet anchor for placement in a leaflet of a heart valve, wherein the leaflet anchor is coupled to the artificial chord; a mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet of the heart valve, wherein the gripper device comprises a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor in a folded configuration; and a U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end of the wire, with the free end of the U-shape abutting the end of the leaflet anchor; the gripper device and leaflet anchor being arranged such that when the gripper device grasps the leaflet, the U-rod wire can be used to push the leaflet anchor out of the leaflet anchor channel to pierce the leaflet and form the leaflet anchor into an unfolded configuration permitting hooked formations of the leaflet anchor to secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.
Core Innovation
The invention provides an endovascular catheter device for repair of the heart by implanting an artificial chord. The device includes a leaflet anchor arranged to be coupled to the artificial chord and for placement in a leaflet of a heart valve, and a mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet with the leaflet anchor housed in a leaflet anchor channel in a folded configuration.
A U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end is used so that, when the U-rod wire is pulled, the free end of the U-shaped rod abuts an end of the leaflet anchor and pushes the leaflet anchor toward a proximal end of the catheter device. This causes the leaflet anchor to pierce the leaflet and form the leaflet anchor into an unfolded configuration, and hooked formations of the leaflet anchor secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.
The mechanical gripper device includes a gripper housing on a main body and a gripper arm rotatably coupled to the gripper housing so the gripper arm can open and close to grasp the leaflet between the gripper arm and the gripper housing. The disclosed system further includes an artificial chord coupled to a papillary anchor deployable into the papillary muscle, where the papillary anchor includes an elastic locking mechanism that clamps the chord when no force is applied and can elastically deformed and released for chord-length adjustment.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim is directed to a catheter device that mechanically grasps a heart valve leaflet, deploys a leaflet anchor from a folded channel using a U-rod wire to pierce and unfold into a hooked configuration, and includes a gripper housing and rotatable gripper arm to open and close for grasping. The claim set presents four inventive features.
Catheter device for implanting an artificial chord
A catheter device for repair of the heart by implanting an artificial chord, comprising a leaflet anchor arranged to be coupled to the artificial chord and placed in a leaflet of a heart valve.
Mechanical gripper with leaflet anchor channel in folded configuration
A mechanical gripper device for grasping the leaflet, the gripper device comprising a leaflet anchor channel for housing the leaflet anchor in a folded configuration.
U-rod wire to push leaflet anchor to pierce and unfold
A U-rod wire with a U-shaped rod at one end, where a free end of the U-shaped rod abuts an end of the leaflet anchor and is arranged to push the leaflet anchor toward a proximal end of the catheter device when the U-rod wire is pulled, so that the leaflet anchor pierces the leaflet and forms into an unfolded configuration with hooked formations that secure the leaflet anchor in the leaflet.
Gripper housing and rotatable gripper arm for open/close grasping
The mechanical gripper device includes a gripper housing on a main body and a gripper arm rotatably coupled to the gripper housing, such that the gripper arm can open and close to grasp the leaflet between the gripper arm and the gripper housing.
The inventive features center on a mechanically operated gripper that grasps a valve leaflet while a U-rod wire pushes a leaflet anchor out of a folded leaflet anchor channel so it pierces and unfolds into a hooked configuration secured in the leaflet, implemented with a gripper housing and rotatable gripper arm.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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