Patent US7112207B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.

US7112207B2 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Minimally invasive mitral valve repair method and apparatus

Assignee: Edwards Lifesciences Corp

•

Filing: 2003-04-24

•

Granted: 2006-09-26

•

Expires: 2023-04-24

📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for the stabilization and fastening of two pieces of tissue. A single device may be used to both stabilize and fasten the two pieces of tissue, or a separate stabilizing device may be used in conjunction with a fastening device. The stabilizing device may comprise a probe with vacuum ports and/or mechanical clamps disposed at the distal end to approximate the two pieces of tissue. After the pieces of tissue are stabilized, they are fastened together using sutures or clips. One exemplary embodiment of a suture-based fastener comprises a toggle and suture arrangement deployed by a needle, wherein the needle enters the front side of the tissue and exits the blind side. In a second exemplary embodiment, the suture-based fastener comprises a needle connected to a suture. The needle enters the blind side of the tissue and exits the front side. The suture is then tied in a knot to secure the pieces of tissue. One example of a clip-based fastener comprises a spring-loaded clip having two arms with tapered distal ends and barbs. The probe includes a deployment mechanism which causes the clip to pierce and lockingly secure the two pieces of tissue.

Inventors

👤 William J. Allen
👤 Alan B. Bachman
👤 Scott Reed
👤 Leland R. Adams
👤 Robert R. Steckel

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —

Jurisdiction US

Data Source google_patents

Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 22:45

CPC Classifications

A; A61; A61B; A61B17/00; A61B17/04; A61B17/0401; A61B17/06; A61B17/062; A61B17/0469; A61B17/0482; A61B17/064; A61B17/068; A61B17/12; A61B17/122; A61B17/1227; A61B17/00234; A61B2017/00238; A61B2017/00243; A61B2017/00743; A61B2017/00778; A61B2017/00783; A61B2017/0417; A61B2017/0446; A61B2017/0458; A61B2017/0464; A61B2017/047; A61B2017/0472; A61B2017/06057; A61B2017/0641; A61B17/30; A61B2017/306; A61F; A61F2/00; A61F2/02; A61F2/24; A61F2/2442; A61F2/246

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 23

Claim 1

Independent Claim 73 words

A method of treating a heart valve, comprising: providing a catheter having a distal portion with a first side and a second side; advancing the catheter distal portion to a location adjacent a heart valve; and grasping a first heart valve leaflet by applying a first vacuum only along the first side of the catheter distal portion; wherein a second heart valve leaflet remains substantially unrestrained while grasping the first heart valve leaflet.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 73 words

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: grasping the second heart valve leaflet by applying a second vacuum along the second side of the catheter distal portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 62 words

The method of claim 2 , wherein the second vacuum is applied to the second side of the catheter distal portion while maintaining application of the first vacuum to the first side of the catheter distal portion, wherein the first valve leaflet is held via the first vacuum to the catheter distal end portion while the second heart valve leaflet is grasped.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: moving the first heart valve leaflet toward the second heart valve leaflet by manipulating the catheter distal portion toward the second valve leaflet.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 4 , further comprising: applying a second vacuum along the second side of the catheter distal portion for grasping the second heart valve leaflet.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The method of claim 5 , wherein the first and second vacuums are provided to the catheter from a common exterior vacuum source.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 1 , further comprising: passing a first suture portion through the first heart valve leaflet.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 7 , further comprising: grasping a second heart valve leaflet; and passing a second suture portion through the second heart valve leaflet.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 8 , wherein the first suture portion and the second suture portion are each a portion of a common suture thread.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 85 words

The method of claim 9 , further comprising: releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion; withdrawing the catheter distal portion from the treatment site, wherein withdrawing the catheter distal portion occurs prior to tightening of the common suture thread; and tightening the common suture thread to secure the first heart valve leaflet to the second heart valve leaflet, wherein tightening the common suture thread occurs after releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 10 , wherein tightening the common suture thread occurs after withdrawal of the catheter distal portion from the location adjacent the heart valve.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 169 words

A method of treating a heart valve, comprising: advancing a catheter distal portion to a desired treatment site adjacent the heart valve; grasping a first heart valve leaflet by applying suction to the catheter distal portion; driving a first needle secured to a common suture thread into the first heart valve leaflet; passing the first needle through the first heart valve leaflet to draw the common suture thread therethrough; grasping a second heart valve leaflet by applying suction to the catheter distal portion; driving a second needle secured to the common suture thread into the second heart valve leaflet; passing the second needle through the second heart valve leaflet to draw the common suture thread therethrough; releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion; and tightening the common suture thread to secure the first heart valve leaflet to the second heart valve leaflet, wherein tightening the common suture thread occurs after releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 169 words

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method of claim 12 , further comprising: withdrawing the catheter distal portion from the treatment site, wherein withdrawing the catheter distal portion occurs prior to tightening of the common suture thread.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method of claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the common suture is stored within the catheter distal portion, and withdrawing the catheter distal portion comprises trailing the suture out of the catheter distal portion.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 12 , further comprising: tying a knot in the common suture thread.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 12 , wherein releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets comprises terminating the application of suction.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 184 words

A method of treating a heart valve, comprising: advancing a catheter distal portion to a desired location adjacent the heart valve; stabilizing a first heart valve leaflet by releasably grasping a portion of the first heart valve leaflet with the catheter distal portion; driving a first needle secured to a common suture thread into the first heart valve leaflet; passing the first needle through the first heart valve leaflet to draw the common suture thread therethrough; stabilizing a second heart valve leaflet by releasably grasping a portion of the second heart valve leaflet with the catheter distal portion; driving a second needle secured to the common suture thread into the second heart valve leaflet; passing the second needle through the second heart valve leaflet to draw the common suture thread therethrough; releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion; and tightening the common suture thread to secure the first heart valve leaflet to the second heart valve leaflet, wherein tightening the common suture thread occurs after releasing the first and second heart valve leaflets from the catheter distal portion.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 184 words

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 17 , wherein the catheter distal portion comprises at least one vacuum port on a side of the catheter distal portion, and releasably grasping the portion of the first heart valve leaflet comprises applying vacuum to the vacuum port.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 17 , further comprising: securing opposing ends of the common suture line together.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 25 words

The method of claim 19 , wherein securing opposing ends of the common suture line together comprises tying a knot in the common suture line.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3805793A Cited

US4350160A Cited

US5685867A Cited

US5080663A Cited

US5443446A Cited

US6029671A Cited

US5885238A Cited

US5792094A Cited

US5242456A Cited

US5267958A Cited

EP0570915A2 Cited

US5458131A Cited

US5662664A Cited

US5741279A Cited

US5540704A Cited

US5741277A Cited

US5700272A Cited

US5575800A Cited

US5578044A Cited

US5713910A Cited

US5601574A Cited

US5330442A Cited

US5814097A Cited

US5403326A Cited

US5569274A Cited

US6010531A Cited

US5924424A Cited

US5374275A Cited

WO1995015715A1 Cited

WO1995025468A1 Cited

US5792153A Cited

US5573540A Cited

US5695457A Cited

US5474573A Cited

US5810847A Cited

US5609598A Cited

US5976159A Cited

US5695504A Cited

US5849019A Cited

US5836956A Cited

US5839639A Cited

US5716367A Cited

EP0769272A1 Cited

US6015417A Cited

US5860992A Cited

WO1997027807A1 Cited

WO1997027893A1 Cited

US6162233A Cited

US5891160A Cited

US6117159A Cited

US6149660A Cited

US5713911A Cited

US5766183A Cited

US6080182A Cited

US5928224A Cited

US6443922B1 Cited

US6083219A Cited

US6056760A Cited

US5928250A Cited

EP0861632A1 Cited

US5972020A Cited

US5968059A Cited

US5891159A Cited

WO1998057585A1 Cited

DE19725739C1 Cited

WO1999000059A1 Cited

US6269819B1 Cited

US6015427A Cited

US6088889A Cited

US6770083B2 Cited

WO1999013777A1 Cited

US6461366B1 Cited

WO1999015223A1 Cited

US6582388B1 Cited

US20020049402A1 Cited

US6157852A Cited

US6047700A Cited

US6190357B1 Cited

US6508777B1 Cited

WO2000003759A2 Cited

US6165183A Cited

US6234995B1 Cited

US6210419B1 Cited

WO2000059382A1 Cited

WO2000060995A2 Cited

US6752813B2 Cited

US6629534B1 Cited

US6165204A Cited

US6312447B1 Cited

WO2001026557A1 Cited

US6875224B2 Cited

US6626930B1 Cited

WO2001028432A1 Cited

WO2001066018B1 Cited

WO2001095809A1 Cited

WO2002024078A1 Cited

WO2002034167B1 Cited

US20020107531A1 Cited

US20030130571A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2009-09-25	2010-03-27	2010-09-26	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2013-09-25	2014-03-27	2014-09-26	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2017-09-25	2018-03-27	2018-09-26	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag

Select Category

Notes (Optional)