Instrument including a movement sensor for determining the position of an anchoring mechanism

Inventors

Cecere, RenzoAzar, Toufic

Assignees

Meacor Inc

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Publication Number

US-9474471-B2

Patent

Publication Date

2016-10-25

Expiration Date


Abstract

An instrument defining instruments proximal and distal ends and positionable with respect to a body valve in the body of a living subject for implanting anchors into living tissue at a predetermined location relative to the body valve. The instrument includes a body. A movement sensor and an effective portion including an anchor implanting mechanism are mounted to the instrument body in the instrument distal end section in a predetermined positional relationship relative to each other. The effective portion positioner is mounted to the instrument body in the instrument proximal end section.

Core Innovation

An elongated, removable instrument is positionable with respect to a body valve in the body of a living subject for implanting anchors into living tissue at a predetermined location relative to the body valve. The instrument defines substantially opposed instrument proximal and distal end sections and includes a substantially elongated instrument body made of a single arm.

The instrument includes a movement sensor for sensing movements of the body valve, where the movement sensor includes a deformable element that is substantially freely deformable by the valve when abutting against the valve. A deformation sensor senses deformations of the deformable element, and the movement sensor and the effective portion are mounted to the instrument body in the instrument distal end section in a predetermined positional relationship relative to each other.

The instrument further includes an effective portion positioner for positioning the effective portion in the living subject in response to movements sensed by the movement sensor. The effective portion includes an anchor implanting mechanism distinct from the anchors for implanting the anchors at the predetermined location, and the effective portion positioner is mounted to the instrument body in the instrument proximal end section.

The instrument is removable from the body while leaving the anchors inside the body, with a deformable element proximal end fixed with respect to the effective portion and a deformable element distal end substantially freely movable relative to the effective portion.

Claims Coverage

The provided excerpt identifies three independent claims. Across the independent claims, the inventive coverage centers on a removable, substantially elongated anchor-implanting instrument with valve movement sensing via a deformable element, deformation sensing, and positioning of an anchor-implanting effective portion in response to sensed valve movements.

Removable elongated anchor-implanting instrument with valve movement sensing and effective portion positioning

An instrument positionable with respect to a body valve for implanting anchors into living tissue at a predetermined location relative to the body valve, including a movement sensor with a deformable element substantially freely deformable by the valve and a deformation sensor for sensing deformations of the deformable element; an effective portion including an anchor implanting mechanism distinct from the anchors; an effective portion positioner for positioning the effective portion in response to movements sensed by the movement sensor; the movement sensor and effective portion mounted in a predetermined positional relationship at the distal end section, and the positioner mounted at the proximal end section; and the instrument removable while leaving the anchors inside the body.

Electrical deformation sensing based on electric activity in adjacent tissue

The instrument of a removable, substantially elongated anchor-implanting device further including that the deformation sensor includes an electrical sensor for sensing electric activity in adjacent tissue, with movement sensing via the deformable element and effective portion positioning using the effective portion positioner in response to movements sensed by the movement sensor; and removable while leaving the anchors inside the body.

Hingedly attached, freely deformable element for valve movement sensing

The instrument of a removable, substantially elongated anchor-implanting device further requiring that the deformable element is hingedly attached to the remainder of the instrument while being substantially freely deformable by the valve when abutting against the valve; with a deformation sensor sensing deformations of the deformable element; and the effective portion positioner positioning the effective portion in response to movements sensed by the movement sensor, with the instrument removable while leaving the anchors inside the body.

The independent claim set covers a removable, elongated implanting instrument that detects body valve movement using a deformable, freely deformable element and a deformation sensor, and then positions an anchor-implanting effective portion via an effective portion positioner in response to sensed movements. Dependent refinements within the provided excerpt further specify deformation sensor modalities, including an electrical sensor for electric activity in adjacent tissue, and structural mounting of the deformable element.

Stated Advantages

Not explicitly described in patent.

Documented Applications

Not explicitly described in patent.

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