Patent ID: 7648532
Filing Date: 2010-01-19
Classification: A61B,A61F

Abstract:
1. A method for repairing a septum wall having an opening through the wall, wherein the opening is defined by an opening sidewall, the method comprising: positioning a repair device in the opening, wherein the repair device comprises first, second, third and fourth sidewall engaging members, and an expandable and contractable joinder member connected between the first and second sidewall engaging members, and wherein the repair device is attachable to a tissue growth element configured to enable tissue growth on the tissue growth element; planarly expanding the repair device from a radially contracted configuration to a radially expanded configuration, wherein the plane of the planar expansion is defined by the first, second, third and fourth sidewall engaging members extending from a closed loop; wherein the planarly expanding comprises anchoring the repair device in the opening, wherein the first sidewall engaging member comprises a first anchoring mechanism at a first end of the first sidewall engaging member and a second anchoring mechanism at a second end of the first sidewall engaging member, and wherein the first anchoring mechanism and the second anchoring mechanism extend from and are extendably attached to the first sidewall engaging member, and wherein anchoring comprises engaging the wall at a first location, and engaging the wall at a second location, and wherein anchoring comprises the first anchoring mechanism substantially unidirectionally restraining the repair device in a first direction, and the second anchoring mechanism substantially unidirectionally restraining the repair device in a second direction, wherein the first direction faces substantially in the direction of the second anchoring mechanism; contacting the opening sidewall with the first anchoring mechanism at least at a first contact point on the wall outside of the opening and with the second anchoring mechanism at a second contact point on the wall outside of the opening; and forming a scaffold between the first contact point and the second contact point, wherein the forming comprises forming with the repair device.