Patent ID: 7125420
Filing Date: 2006-10-24
Classification: A61F,Y10S

Abstract:
1. Apparatus for reducing mitral regurgitation, the apparatus comprising: an elongated bar adapted for insertion into a coronary sinus in the vicinity of the posterior leaflet of the mitral valve, said bar having a straight configuration in an unstressed state, said bar comprising five segments disposed end-to-end, said segments comprising: a central segment provided with a selected first degree of flexibility which provides rigidity sufficient to reconfigure the mitral annulus; a pair of intermediate segments, one disposed at each end of said central segment, said intermediate segments each being provided with a selected second degree of flexibility which provides more rigidity to said intermediate segments than the rigidity of said central segment; and a pair of outer segments, each disposed at the end of an intermediate segment remote from said central segment, said outer segments each being provided with a third degree of flexibility exceeding the flexibility of said central segment and said intermediate segments; whereby upon the insertion of said bar into the coronary sinus, said central segment serves to reconfigure the mitral annulus, said intermediate segments serve to transfer the load of reconfiguring the mitral annulus to said outer segments, and said outer segments serve to dissipate the load to side walls of the coronary sinus.