Patent ID: 9675474
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: A61B,A61F

Claim:
1. A vascular device for treating venous valve insufficiency by an intravascular approach to a target vessel, the device comprising a body and a plurality of vessel penetrating members extending radially from the body in a direction away from a longitudinal axis of the body, the body composed of shape memory material with a low profile insertion position of a first cross-sectional dimension, a shape memorized configuration being of a second reduced cross-sectional dimension but of larger cross-sectional dimension than the first cross sectional dimension and a vessel wall engagement position having a third cross-sectional dimension greater than the second cross-sectional dimension, the vessel engaging members having penetrating tips to penetrate the vessel wall and securely grasp the vessel wall for approximation of the wall, the body movable from the vessel wall engagement position, wherein the penetrating tips of the vessel engaging members penetrate to grasp the vessel wall, toward the shape memorized configuration to thereby bring the vessel wall radially inwardly so the vessel wall is changed from a first diameter to a second diameter, the second diameter being less than the first diameter, such reduction in diameter enabling the treatment of venous valve insufficiency by one of a) bringing the vessel wall to the second diameter such that existing valve leaflets extending radially inwardly from an internal portion of the vessel wall move closer together to thereby reduce a gap in the leaflets to prevent retrograde flow which gap otherwise is insufficient for proper closing of the valve which results in improper functioning of the valves such that retrograde blood flow is not prevented or b) implantation of a replacement valve extending from the vascular device and connected thereto and implanted with the vascular device to prevent retrograde blood flow as the replacement valve moves to a closed position.