Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US7160322?dq=6106459
Timestamp: 2017-09-21 21:55:13
Document Index: 107481636

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 34', 'art 36', 'art 134', 'art 136', 'art 134', 'art 136', 'art 1000']

Patent US7160322 - Implantable cardiac prosthesis for mitigating prolapse of a heart valve - Google Patents
An apparatus helps improve operation of a heart valve. The apparatus includes an arcuate base portion having a central axis and a buttress extending from the base portion axially relative to the base portion. The buttress has a first surface and an opposite second surface. The first surface is dimensioned...http://www.google.com/patents/US7160322?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US7160322 - Implantable cardiac prosthesis for mitigating prolapse of a heart valve
Publication number US7160322 B2
Application number US 10/639,970
Also published as US20050038508
Publication number 10639970, 639970, US 7160322 B2, US 7160322B2, US-B2-7160322, US7160322 B2, US7160322B2
Patent Citations (22), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (158), Classifications (9), Legal Events (5)
US 7160322 B2
FIG. 4 is a top view of the support frame of FIG. 3 taken along line 4—4 of FIG. 3.
FIG. 7 is an end view of the support frame of FIG. 6 taken along line 7—7 of FIG. 6.
FIGS. 1–2 illustrate an apparatus 10, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, for helping improve operation of a heart valve. The apparatus 10 includes a base portion 12, which may be a curved arc, an oval shape, egg-shaped, or another suitable shape dimensioned and configured for attachment at an annulus of a heart valve. A central axis 14 extends through the apparatus 10 substantially transverse to a plane extending through the base portion 12 and through a center of the base portion. The base portion 12 has an inflow side 16 and an outflow side 18.
The buttress 20 extends axially away from the outflow side 18 of the base portion 12. In the example of the apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1–2 (having a complete annular base portion 12), two apertures extend axially through the apparatus 10, one between a first arc length of the base portion 12 and the posterior side surface 24 and another between an opposite second arc length of the base portion and the anterior side surface 28. The apertures provide openings or orifices to permit the passage of blood through the apparatus 10, such as during diastole of a mitral valve. The buttress 20, in conjunction with the leaflets also inhibits the flow of blood when the valve is in a closed position, such as during ventricular contraction at systole.
The apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 1–4 may include an underlying support frame 32 that is dimensioned and configured to provide a desired shape for the apparatus 10. As shown in FIG. 3, the support frame 32 provides a support mechanism that forms the base portion 12 and the buttress 20. The support frame 32 has a frame part 34 for supporting the base portion 12 and a frame part 36 for supporting the buttress 20. The support frame 32 may be formed of a resilient and/or flexible material, such as a plastic, metal, or other biocompatible material suitable for implantation into a human. The rigidity or flexibility of each part of the frame may vary depending upon the amount of support desired at the annulus (by the base portion) as well as the amount of flexibility desired during engagement between the leaflets and the buttress 20.
FIG. 5 illustrates an underlying support frame 132 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. As with the support frame 32 of FIGS. 3–4, the support frame 132 may be dimensioned and configured to provide a desired shape for an apparatus. The support frame 132 has a frame part 134 for supporting a base portion and a frame part 136 for supporting a buttress. The support frame 132 provides a support mechanism that forms a base portion and a buttress of an apparatus in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The support frame 132 may be formed of a resilient and/or flexible material, such as a plastic, metal, or other material suitable for implantation into a human. The rigidity or flexibility of each part of the frame may vary depending upon the amount of support desired at the annulus (by the base portion) as well as the amount of flexibility desired during engagement between the leaflets and the buttress.
As with the support frame 32 of FIGS. 1–4, an outer sheath of a biocompatible material may cover the support frame 132, including the frame part 134 of the base portion and the frame part 136 of the buttress. The material can be a treated natural tissue material (e.g., collagen, pericardium, dura matter and the like) or a synthetic material (e.g., fabric, molded collagen and the like), such as described above. An apparatus utilizing the support frame 132 may also include an implantation flange that circumscribes the D-shaped base portion of the apparatus.
FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate part of a heart 1000 in which an apparatus, such as the apparatus 10 illustrated with respect to FIGS. 1–2, is implanted at an annulus 1002 of a mitral valve 1003. The mitral valve 1003 is intended to provide unidirectional flow of blood from the left atrium 1004 into the left ventricle 1006. The mitral valve 1003 includes a posterior leaflet 1007 and an anterior leaflet 1008. The posterior leaflet 1007 extends from the annulus 1002 opposite the aortic opening (not shown) and attaches to the muscular tissue of the left ventricle wall by fibrous cordae tendinae 1010. The anterior leaflet 1008 extends from the annulus 1002 adjacent the aortic opening (not shown) and attaches to the muscular tissue of the left ventricle wall by fibrous cordae tendinae 1012.
It is to be appreciated that the buttress 20 may be formed of a generally rigid material that remains substantially stationary (e.g., static) during both systole and diastole. Alternatively, the buttress 20 may be formed of sufficiently flexible material, such as a sheet of material supported in a peripheral frame (see, e.g., FIGS. 9–10) or by employing a more flexible type of frame to permit movement thereof commensurate with the flow of blood from the left atrium 1004 into the left ventricle 1006 through the mitral valve 1003.
FIGS. 13 and 14 show an apparatus 600 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The apparatus 600 may perform a similar function for a tricuspid valve that the apparatus 10 does for a bicuspid valve. The apparatus 600 includes a buttress having three buttress portions 611, 612, 613 extending radially from a central axis 614. Each buttress portion 611, 612, 613 has a widened base portion 621, 622, 623 and a narrower opposite distal portion 631, 632, 633 (e.g., at its outflow end). The wider base portions 621, 622, 623 also include lip portions at the inflow end thereof that facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the buttress portions 611, 612, 613 and the leaflets of the tricuspid valve, similar to the buttress 620 of the apparatus 10. For example, the widened lip at the inflow end mitigate prolapse of the leaflets. The apparatus 600 further includes flanges 619 for securing the apparatus to surrounding tissue, such as by suturing. The apparatus 600 may also include an underlying support frame and outer sheath, as discussed above in FIGS. 1–10.
FIGS. 15 and 16 show an apparatus 700 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The apparatus 700 may perform a similar function for a tricuspid valve that the apparatus 600 does for a tricuspid valve and the apparatus 10 does for a bicuspid valve. The apparatus 700 includes three buttress portions 711, 712, 713 extending radially from a central axis 714. Each buttress portion 711, 712, 713 also extends axially from an annular base portion 702. The base portion 702 may be circular, oval, C-shaped, or other suitable shape. Each buttress portion 711, 712, 713 has a widened base 721, 722, 723 adjacent the base portion 702 and a narrower opposite distal portion 731, 732, 733. The wider bases 721, 722, 723 form lips that facilitate the engagement and disengagement of the buttresses 711, 712, 713 and the leaflets of the tricuspid valve, similar to the buttresses 611, 612, 613 of the apparatus 600 and the buttress 20 of the apparatus 10. For example, the widened lip at the inflow end of the buttress portions 711, 712, 713 mitigate prolapse of the leaflets. The apparatus 700 may also include an underlying support frame and outer sheath, as discussed above in FIGS. 1–10.
US4240161 Feb 21, 1979 Dec 23, 1980 Medical, Incorporated Arcuate disc heart valve
1 "Nitinol Solutions", Product brochure of Raychem Corporation, Electronics OEM Components Division Menlo Park, California Copyright date of 1999.
Cooperative Classification A61F2/2445, A61F2/2466, A61F2/2454