Systems and methods for treating pulmonary hypertension
Inventors
Vollmers, Karl • Scandurra, John
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-11992636-B2
Publication Date
2024-05-28
Expiration Date
Abstract
A system for treating heart disease, such as pulmonary hypertension or right heart failure, including an implantable component and external components for monitoring the implantable component is provided. The implantable component may include a compliant member, e.g., balloon, coupled to a reservoir via a conduit. Preferably, the compliant member is adapted to be implanted in a pulmonary artery and the reservoir is adapted to be implanted subcutaneously. The external components may include a clinical controller component, monitoring software configured to run a clinician's computer, a patient monitoring device, and a mobile application configured to run on a patient's mobile device.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to a system for treating pulmonary hypertension that includes a balloon sized and shaped to be implanted in a pulmonary artery. The balloon is configured to expand and contract responsive to pressure changes in the pulmonary artery and is in fluidic communication with a reservoir via a conduit that fluidically couples the balloon and the reservoir.
The system further includes an implantable anchor configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded deployed state for securing the balloon within the pulmonary artery. The implantable anchor is formed from a shape memory material and self-expands upon deployment within the pulmonary artery, and in the deployed state an outer surface of the implantable anchor contacts an inner wall of the pulmonary artery for securing the balloon within the pulmonary artery.
The implantable anchor is configured to removably engage a distal region of the conduit, thereby securing the conduit to the implantable anchor. The system is configured such that the conduit is able to disengage from the implantable anchor in vivo upon a rotational movement at the distal region of the conduit.
Claims Coverage
The partial document provides two independent claims: one directed to a pulmonary hypertension treatment system and one directed to a method of implanting such a system. Across these independent claims, four main inventive features are explicitly stated.
Pressure-responsive implantable balloon with fluidic reservoir coupling
A balloon sized and shaped to be implanted in a pulmonary artery, configured to expand and contract responsive to pressure changes in the pulmonary artery, with a reservoir in fluidic communication with the balloon.
Conduit fluidically coupling balloon and reservoir
A conduit fluidically coupling the balloon and the reservoir.
Shape-memory self-expanding anchor securing the balloon
An implantable anchor configured to transition between a contracted state and an expanded deployed state for securing the balloon within the pulmonary artery, formed from a shape memory material and configured to self-expand upon deployment, with an outer surface contacting an inner wall of the pulmonary artery.
In vivo rotational disengagement of the conduit
The implantable anchor is configured to removably engage a distal region of the conduit, and the conduit is configured to disengage from the implantable anchor in vivo upon a rotational movement at the distal region of the conduit.
Overall, the independent claims cover a system and implantation method in which a pressure-responsive pulmonary artery balloon is fluidically coupled to a reservoir via a conduit, secured by a self-expanding shape-memory anchor, with an in vivo conduit disengagement mechanism triggered by rotational movement at the distal conduit region.
Stated Advantages
Documented Applications
No documented applications found
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