Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2000006026A2/en
Timestamp: 2018-10-23 07:35:05
Document Index: 377062928

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art\n14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14']

WO2000006026A2 - Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method - Google Patents
WO2000006026A2
WO2000006026A2 PCT/US1999/016874 US9916874W WO0006026A2 WO 2000006026 A2 WO2000006026 A2 WO 2000006026A2 US 9916874 W US9916874 W US 9916874W WO 0006026 A2 WO0006026 A2 WO 0006026A2
PCT/US1999/016874
WO2000006026A9 (en )
WO2000006026A3 (en )
HEART WALL TENSION REDUCTION APPARATUS AND METHOD Cross Reference to Related Application
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. Application Serial No.
08/933,456, filed September 18, 1997, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
Application Serial No. 08/778,277, filed January 2, 1997. This application is related
to U.S. Application Serial 09/123,977, filed on date even herewith and entitled
"Transventricular Implant Tools and Devices" and U.S. Application Serial No. 09/124,321, filed on date even herewith and entitled "Stress Reduction Apparatus and
Method," both of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention pertains to the field of apparatus for treatment of a failing heart. In particular, the apparatus of the present invention is directed toward reducing the
wall stress in the failing heart.
The syndrome of heart failure is a common course for the progression of many forms of heart disease. Heart failure may be considered to be the condition in which an abnormality of cardiac function is responsible for the inability of the heart to pump blood
at a rate commensurate with the requirements of the metabolizing tissues, or can do so only at an abnormally elevated filling pressure. There are many specific disease
processes that can lead to heart failure. Typically resulting in dilatation of the left ventricular chamber. Etiologies that can lead to this form of failure include idiopathic cardiomyopathy, viral cardiomyopathy, and ischemic cardiomyopathy.
The process of ventricular dilatation is generally the result of chronic volume
overload or specific damage to the myocardium. In a normal heart that is exposed to long term increased cardiac output requirements, for example, that of an athlete, there is an adaptive process of slight ventricular dilation and muscle myocyte hypertrophy. In this way, the heart fully compensates for the increased cardiac output requirements. With damage to the myocardium or chronic volume overload, however, there are increased requirements put on the contracting myocardium to such a level that this compensated state is never achieved and the heart continues to dilate.
The basic problem with a large dilated left ventricle is that there is a significant increase in wall tension and/or stress both during diastolic filling and during systolic contraction. In a normal heart, the adaptation of muscle hypertrophy (thickening) and ventricular dilatation maintain a fairly constant wall tension for systolic contraction. However, in a failing heart, the ongoing dilatation is greater than the hypertrophy and the result is a rising wall tension requirement for systolic contraction. This is felt to be an ongoing insult to the muscle myocyte resulting in further muscle damage. The increase in wall stress is also true for diastolic filling. Additionally, because of the lack of cardiac output, there is generally a rise in ventricular filling pressure from several physiologic mechanisms. Moreover, in diastole there is both a diameter increase and a pressure increase over normal, both contributing to higher wall stress levels. The increase in diastolic wall stress is felt to be the primary contributor to ongoing dilatation of the chamber. Prior art treatments for heart failure fall into three generally categories. The first being pharmacological, for example, diuretics. The second being assist systems, for example, pumps. Finally, surgical treatments have been experimented with, which are described in more detail below. With respect to pharmacological treatments, diuretics have been used to reduce the workload of the heart by reducing blood volume and preload. Clinically, preload is defined in several ways including left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP), or left ventricular end diastolic volume (LVEDV). Physiologically, the preferred definition is the length of stretch of the sarcomere at end diastole. Diuretics reduce extra cellular fluid which builds in congestive heart failure patients increasing preload conditions. Nitrates, arteriolar vasodilators, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors have been used to treat heart failure through the reduction of cardiac workload through the reduction of afterload. Afterload may be defined as the tension or stress required in the wall of the ventricle during ejection. Inotropes like digoxin are cardiac glycosides and function to increase cardiac output by increasing the force and speed of cardiac muscle contraction. These drug therapies offer some beneficial effects but do not stop the progression of the disease.
Assist devices include mechanical pumps. Mechanical pumps reduce the load on the heart by performing all or part of the pumping function normally done by the heart.
Currently, mechanical pumps are used to sustain the patient while a donor heart for transplantation becomes available for the patient.
Those apparatus of the present invention which reduce heart wall stress by changing chamber wall geometry can be referred to as "splints". Splints can be grouped as either "full cycle splints" which engage the heart to produce a chamber shape change throughout the cardiac cycle, or "restrictive splints" which do not engage the heart wall at end systole to produce a chamber shape change. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a tension member for drawing at least two walls of the heart chamber toward each other to reduce the radius or area of the heart chamber in at least one cross sectional plane. The tension member has anchoring members disposed at opposite ends for engagement with the heart or chamber wall. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a compression member for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other. In one embodiment, the compression member includes a balloon. In another embodiment of the apparatus, a frame is provided for supporting the compression member.
The compression member of the above embodiment can be disposed exterior to, or internally of the heart. The tension member extends through the chamber or chambers to bias the lever members toward the heart. In yet another embodiment of a heart wall tension reduction apparatus in accordance with the present invention, a rigid elongate frame member is provided. The frame member can extend through one or more chambers of the heart. One or more cantilever members can be disposed at opposite ends of the frame member. Each cantilever member includes at least one atraumatic pad disposed thereon. The atraumatic pads disposed at opposite ends of the frame member can be biased toward each other to compress the heart chamber.
Yet another method of placing a heart wall tension apparatus on a heart includes the step of extending a needle having a flexible tension member releasably connected thereto through at least one chamber of the heart such that opposite ends of the tension member are external to the chamber and exposed on opposite sides of the chamber. The needle is removed from the tension member. Then first and second atraumatic pads are connected to the tension member at opposite ends of the tension member. Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 2 is a transverse cross-section of the left and right ventricles of a human heart showing the placement of a balloon device in accordance with the present
Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section of the left and right ventricles of a human heart showing the placement of an external compression frame structure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 4 is a transverse cross-section of the left and right ventricles of a human heart showing a clamp in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 6 is a transverse cross-section of the left and right ventricles of a human heart showing a two tension member version of the splint shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 10 is a vertical cross-section of a chamber of a human heart showing another alternative configuration of splints in accordance with the present invention; Figure 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber of a human heart showing another embodiment of a splint in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber of a human heart showing another embodiment of the splint in accordance with the present invention; Figure 13 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber of a human heart showing a compression member version of the splint in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 14 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber of a human heart showing another version of the splint shown in Figure 13; Figure 15 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a chamber of a human heart showing a frame member version of the splint in accordance with the present invention; Figure 16 is an end view of the splint of Figure 15;
Figure 17 is a vertical cross-section of the left ventricle and atrium, the left ventricle having scar tissue; Figure 18 is a vertical cross-section of the heart of Figure 17 showing the splint of
Figure 1 drawing the scar tissue toward the opposite wall of the left ventricle;
Figure 19 is a vertical cross-section of the left ventricle and atrium of a human heart showing a version of the splint of Figure 1 having an elongate anchor bar; Figure 20 is a side view of an undeployed hinged anchor member; Figure 21 is a side view of a deployed hinged anchor member of Figure 10;
Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of an captured ball anchor member; Figure 23 is a perspective view of a cross bar anchor member; Figure 24 is a cross sectional view of an alternate anchor pad; Figure 25 is a cross sectional view of an alternate anchor pad;
Figure 27 is a perspective view of a tension member clip; Figure 28 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of a tension member clip;
Figure 30 is a cross sectional view of the pad including an envelope; Figure 31 shows the envelope of Figure 30;
Figure 32 is a side view of a multifilament twisted cable; Figure 33 is a cross sectional of the cable of Figure 32; Figure 34 is a side of a multifilament braided tension member; Figure 35 is a schematic generally horizontal cross sectional view of the heart showing preferred tension member alignments;
Figure 36 is a idealized cylindrical model of a left ventricle of a human heart; Figure 37 is a splinted model of the left ventricle of Figure 14; Figure 38 is a transverse cross-sectional view of Figure 15 showing various modeling parameters; Figure 39 is a transverse cross-section of the splinted left ventricle of Figure 15 showing a hypothetical force distribution; and
Figure 40 is a second transverse cross-sectional view of the model left ventricle of Figure 15 showing a hypothetical force distribution. Detailed Description of the Invention
Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the several views, Figure 1 shows a transverse cross-section of a left ventricle 10 and a right ventricle 12 of a human heart 14. Extending through the left ventricle is a splint 16 including a tension member 18 and oppositely disposed anchors 20. Splint 16 as shown in Figure 1 has been positioned to draw opposite walls of left ventricle 10 toward each other to reduce the "radius" of the left ventricular cross-section or the cross-sectional area thereof to reduce left ventricular wall stresses. It should be understood that although the splint 16 and the altemative devices disclosed herein are described in relation to the left ventricle of a human heart, these devices could also be used to reduce the radius or cross-sectional area of the other chambers of a human heart in transverse or vertical directions, or at an angle between the transverse and vertical.
Those apparatus of the present invention which reduce heart wall stress by changing chamber wall geometry can be referred to as "splints". "Full cycle splints" engage the heart to produce a chamber shape change throughout the cardiac cycle.
"Restrictive splints" do not engage the heart wall at end systole to produce a chamber shape change.
Figure 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view of human heart 14 showing yet another embodiment of the present invention. In this case a clamp 400 having atraumatic anchor pads 410 biased toward each other is shown disposed on a wall of left ventricle 10. Here the radius or cross-sectional area of left ventricle 10 is reduced by clamping off the portion of the wall between pads 410. Pads 410 can be biased toward each other and/or can be held together by a locking device. Each of the various embodiments of the present invention disclosed in Figures 1-4 can be made from materials which can remain implanted in the human body indefinitely. Such biocompatible materials are well-known to those skilled in the art of clinical
Figure 5 shows an alternate embodiment of the splint of Figure 1 referred to in Figure 5 by the numeral 116. The embodiment 116 shown in Figure 5 includes three tension members 118 as opposed to a single tension member 18 as shown in Figure 1. Figure 6 shows yet another embodiment of the splint 216 having four tension members 218. It is anticipated that in some patients, the disease process of the failing heart may be so advanced that three, four or more tension members may be desirable to reduce the heart wall stresses more substantially than possible with a single tension member as
Figure 7 is a partial vertical cross-section of human heart 14 showing left ventricle 10. In Figure 7, another splint embodiment 316 is shown having a tension member 318 extending through left ventricle 10. On opposite ends of tension member
318 are disposed elongate anchors or pads 320. Figure 8 is an end view of tension member 318 showing elongate anchor 320.
Figure 9 shows another embodiment of a splint 416 disposed in a partial vertical cross-section of human heart 14. Splint 416 includes two elongate anchors or pads 420 similar to those shown in Figures 7 and 8. In Figure 9, however, two tension members
418 extend through left ventricle 10 to interconnect anchors 420 on opposite sides of heart 14.
Figure 11 is a vertical cross sectional view of the left ventricle of heart 14. Two alternate embodiment splints 516 are shown extending through left ventricle 10. Each splint 516 includes two tension members 518 interconnecting two anchors or pads 520. Figure 12 is yet another vertical cross sectional view of left ventricle 10 of heart
14. An alternate embodiment 616 of the splint is shown extending through left ventricle 10. Splint 616 includes an elongate anchor pad 620 and two shorter anchors or pads 621. Splint 616 includes two tension members 618. Each tension member 618 extends between anchors 620 and respective anchors 621. Figure 13 is a vertical cross sectional view of left ventricle 10 of heart 14. A splint 50 is shown disposed on heart 14. Splint 50 includes a compression member 52 shown extending through left ventricle 10. Opposite ends of compression member 52 are disposed exterior to left ventricle 10. Lever members 54 extend from each end of compression member 52 upwardly along the exterior surface of ventricle 10. A tension member 56 extends between lever members 54 to bias lever members 54 toward heart 14 to compress chamber 10. Compression member 52 should be substantially rigid, but lever members 54 and to some degree compression member 52 should be flexible enough to allow tension member 56 to bias lever members 54 toward heart 14. Alternately, lever members 54 could be hinged to compression member 52 such that lever members 54 could pivot about the hinge when biased toward heart 14 by tension member 56.
It should be understood that each of the embodiments described above should be formed from suitable biocompatible materials known to those skilled in the art. The tension members can be formed from flexible or relatively more rigid material. The compression members and frame member should be formed from generally rigid material which may flex under load, but generally hold its shape. Figure 17 is a partial vertical cross-section of human heart 14 showing left ventricle 10 and left atrium 22. As shown in Figure 7, heart 14 includes a region of scar tissue 24 associated with an aneurysm or ischemia. As shown in Figure 7, the scar tissue 24 increases the radius or cross-sectional area of left ventricle 10 in the region affected by
the scar tissue. Such an increase in the radius or cross-sectional area of the left ventricle will result in greater wall stresses on the walls of the left ventricle.
Figures 20 and 21 are side views of a hinged anchor 28 which could be substituted for anchors 20 in undeployed and deployed positions respectively. Anchor 28 as shown in Figure 20 includes two legs similar to bar anchor 26. Hinged anchor 28 could include additional legs and the length of those legs could be varied to distribute the force over the surface of the heart wall. In addition there could be webbing between each of the legs to give anchor 28 an umbrella-like appearance. Preferably the webbing would be disposed on the surface of the legs which would be in contact with the heart wall. Figure 22 is a cross-sectional view of a capture ball anchor 30. Capture ball anchor 30 can be used in place of anchor 20. Capture ball anchor 30 includes a disk portion 32 to distribute the force of the anchor on the heart wall, and a recess 34 for receiving a ball 36 affixed to an end of tension member 18. Disk 32 and recess 34 include a side groove which allows tension member 38 to be passed from an outside edge of disk 32 into recess 34. Ball 36 can then be advanced into recess 34 by drawing tension member 18 through an opening 38 in recess 34 opposite disk 32.
Figure 24 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment of anchor pad 340 in accordance with the present invention. Anchor pad 340 preferably includes a disc shaped pad portion 342. Disc shape pad portion 342 includes side 343, which in use is disposed toward the heart. A conical aperture 348 having sloping sides 346 extends through pad 342. Collet 344 is disposed within orifice 348. A threaded portion 350 of collet 344 extends from orifice 348 opposite side 343, nut 352 is threaded over threaded portion 350. Lumen 345 extends through collet 344. A tension member 354 is shown extending through lumen 345. Lumen 345 has a diameter such that when nut 352 is not tightened on threaded portion 350, tension member 354 can slide freely through lumen
345. When nut 352 is tightened, it draws collet 344 away from side 343. Collet 344 is
then pinched between walls 346 of orifice 348. When collet 344 is pinched, the size of lumen 345 is reduced such that tension member 354 can no longer move freely within lumen 345, fixing the position of pad 340 on tension member 354.
Figure 25 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment an anchor pad 360 in accordance with the present invention. Anchor pad 360 includes a generally discshaped pad portion 362. Pad 362 includes a side 363 which when the pad is in use, is disposed toward the heart. A tension member lumen 364 extends through pad 362. Lumen 364 preferably has a generally conical shaped portion 365 disposed toward side 363. Tension member 370 is shown disposed through lumen 364 in Figure 25. Pad 362 includes a threaded passage 366 extending from an edge of pad 362 to lumen 364. A set screw 368 is threaded into passage 366. Set screw 368 can be tightened to engage tension member 370 to fix the position of anchor pad 360. When set screw 368 is not tightened, the size of lumen 364 is preferably large enough that anchor pad 360 can slide relatively freely over tension member 370.
A tension member fastener 384 is formed in pad 382 by cutting a series of grooves and apertures through pad 382 from side 385 to side 383. A first groove 386 has a generally horseshoe shape. Second groove 388 extends between opposite portions of horseshoe shaped groove 386 to form two oppositely disposed cantilever members 387. A relatively large aperture 394 is formed between cantilever members 387 proximate their free ends. A second and smaller aperture 390 is formed closer to the fixed ends of cantilever members 387. Tension member 392 is shown extending through aperture 390. As shown in Figure 26, tension member 392 is clamped between cantilever members 387 such that the location of pad 382 is fixed along tension member 392. Pad 382 can be released by using a spreading device 396 to spread cantilever members 387 apart. Spreading device 396 includes handle 398 to spreading arms 400 each having a finger 402. Fingers 402 can be placed within aperture 394 then arms 400 and fingers 402 can be spread apart by pivoting them around a pin 404 such that cantilevers 387 are spread apart and pad 382 can move freely along tension member 392. It can be appreciated that although spreader 396 is shown extending transversely from tension member 392, it could also be configured such that fingers 402 do not curve transversely from arms 400 and thus spreader 396 could be disposed parallel to tension member 392. This would be particularly desirable in a situation where anchor pad 380 was being placed through a port or window during a less invasive splint implantation procedure. It can be appreciated that cantilever members 387 can be held apart such that pad 380 can be moved along tension member 392 by placement of a temporary wedge or pin in groove 388. For example, grooves 388 may include an additional small aperture disposed between aperture 390 and aperture 394 into which a pin could be placed to hold open members 387. When it is desired to fix the position of anchor pad 380 on tension member 392, device 396 could be used to spread cantilever members 387 to remove the pin. The cantilever members could then be released to engage tension member 392.
Aperture 390 of pad 380 can also include a conical portion disposed toward side 383 such as conical portion 365 of pad 360.
Cantilever arms 384 are preferably configured such that they do not stress tension member 392 beyond its elastic limit. It can also be appreciated that the force developed
by cantilever members 387 impinging on tension member 392 is operator independent and defined by the geometry and material characteristics of members 387.
Figure 28 is a cross sectional view of an alternate embodiment 420 of a tension member cutter. Device 420 includes an elongate outer tube 422 having a distal end 424.
Tube 424 defines a lumen 423 through which extends a second tube 430 having a distal end 428. Extending distally from distal end 428 are two cutting arms 424 and 426 which are shown partially withdrawn into lumen 423 and transversely restrained by distal end
424 of outer tube 422. When unrestrained by distal end 424, arms 424 and 426 are biased apart. Each arm 424 and 426 has a cutting element 425 and 427, respectively. Elements
425 and 427 are shown in contact with each other in Figure 28. A tension member 370 extends between arms 424 and through lumen 432 of inner tube 430. A representative anchor pad 360 is disposed adjacent elements 425 and 427. Device 420 of Figure 28 is particularly useful when trimming excess tension member using less invasive techniques as it can be readily advanced over a tension member through a port or window trocar. Figure 29 is a vertical cross sectional view of left ventricle B of heart A. A
transventricular splint 443 including a tension member 370 and anchor pads 360 are shown disposed on heart A. To the left of heart A as shown in the figure is a coiled portion 442 of tension member 470. As an alternative to trimming an excess length of tension member, tension member 370 could be formed from a shape memory alloy such that portion 442 could be preset to assume a coil shape when warmed to near body temperature.
Once the length of the tension member has been adjusted, the anchors are secured in place along the tension member and the excess length of tension member removed if desired, the anchor or anchor pads are preferably secured in place on the heart. The anchor or anchor pads are secured such that relatively movement between the anchors or anchor pads and the heart is limited to reduce abrasion of the heart wall. To secure the anchor or anchor pads to heart A, a biocompatible adhesive could be placed between the pad and the heart to adhere the pad to the heart. Alternately, apertures could be provided in the pad such that sutures could be extended through the apertures and into the heart to secure the pad. In addition to sutures, the pad could include threaded apertures into which anchor screws could be advanced through the pad and into the heart wall to secure the pad to the heart. Figure 30 illustrates yet another alternative approach to securing the anchors or anchor pads to the heart surface. Figure 30 is a cross sectional view of an anchor pad 340 disposed on heart A. Anchor pad 340 is disposed within an envelope 446. Envelope 446 includes a bottom layer 447 disposed between anchor pad 340 and heart A and a top layer 448 disposed on the opposite side of anchor pad 340. Layers 347 and 340 are held together by sutures 449. Bottom layer 447 is preferably a mesh or expanded PTFE which has a pore size or intranodial dimension sufficient to promote tissue ingrowth. The pore size is preferably between about 10 and about 100 microns and more preferably, between about 20 and about 40 microns. With respect to expanded PTFE, the intranodial dimension is preferably between about 10 to about 100 microns and more preferably between about 20 to about 40 microns. The top material could also be expanded PTFE or the like having a pore size which preferably does not promote ingrowth and thus resists adhesion to surrounding tissue. As an alternative embodiment, the pores could be formed
directly in the pad surface. Envelope 446 would preferably be placed around pad 340 prior to placing pad
340 on tension member 354. A window 450 can be provided to provide access to nut 352 to secure pads to tension member 354. After tightening nut 352, window 450 can be closed by suture 452. Figure 31 is a top view of pad 340 and envelope 446 of Figure 30. It can be appreciated that a similar envelope can be placed around the various anchor pads disclosed herein. The location of the window may have to vary, however, to provide access to the respective means for securing the anchor pads to the tension member. The splints of the present invention can be implanted acutely or chronically.
When the splints are implanted chronically, it is particularly important that the tension member or members be highly fatigue resistant. Typical materials for the tension member can include, among other biocompatible materials, stainless steel, titanium alloys, NiTi alloys such as Nitinol or elgiloy. In a preferred embodiment, the tension member is a wire having a diameter of between 0.005 to 0.035 inches in diameter or, more preferably, between 0.01 and 0.02 inches in diameter and, most preferably, about 0.014 inches in diameter. The length of the tension member between the pads is preferably about 0.6 to 4 inches, and more preferably, between about 1 to 3 inches and, most preferably, about 2 inches. To improve the fatigue resistance of the metallic tension members, their surface can be electro-polished, buffed or shot peened. Drawing or annealing of the metal will also improve fatigue resistance.
The tension members and anchors or anchor pads are preferably bio-resistant, i.e., resistant to physiologic attack. To improve bio-resistance, tension member and/or anchors or anchor pads can be coated with carbon material such as glass, pyrolytic carbon, diamond or graphite, zirconium nitrate or oxide. Roughened or porous urethanes, silicone or polymer coatings or sheaths can be used to promote tissue ingrowth to create a biological seal. Hydrophilic and albumin coatings can also be used. Drugs incorporated into a binder coating can also be used to reduce biological attack on the splint and irritation of tissue by the splint. Such drugs include heparin, coumadin, anti- inflammatory steroid or ASA-aspirin. The oxide layer of the underlying metal could also be optimized to improve bio-resistance. This is particularly true for stainless steel, titanium, or nickel titanium on which an oxide layer can be formed by heating the component to improve biocompatibility. Further coatings include calcium hydroxy
appetite, beta tricalcium phosphate and aluminum oxide can be applied to the tension member. The tension member and/or pad or anchor pad can at least be, in part, formed from titanium to enhance electronegativity.
In use, the various embodiments of the present invention are placed in or adjacent the human heart to reduce the radius or cross-section area of at least one chamber of the heart. This is done to reduce wall stress or tension in the heart or chamber wall to slow, stop or reverse failure of the heart. In the case of the splint 16 shown in Figure 1, a cannula can be used to pierce both walls of the heart and one end of the splint can be advanced through the cannula from one side of the heart to the opposite side where an anchor can be affixed or deployed. Likewise, an anchor is affixed or deployed at the opposite end of splint 16. Additional methods for splint placement are described in more detail in U.S. Application Serial No. 09 / 123 , 977 filed on date even herewith and entitled "Transventricular Implant Tools and Devices" and incorporated herein by reference. It can be appreciated that the methods described above to advance the tension members through the ventricles can be repeated to advance the desired number of tension members through the ventricle for a particular configuration. The length of the tension members can be determined based upon the size and condition of the patient's heart. It should also be noted that although the left ventricle has been referred to here for illustrative purposes, that the apparatus and methods of this invention can also be used to splint multiple chambers of a patient's heart as well as the right ventricle or either atrium.
Figure 35 is a schematic view of generally horizontal cross section of heart A including left ventricle B and right ventricle C. Also shown are left anterior descending artery E, posterior descending artery F, obtuse marginal artery G, postero-medial papillary muscle H and antero-lateral papillary muscle I. Shown in Figure 35 are three generally horizontal preferred alignments for tension member placement for the splints of the present invention. These alignments generally met three goals of splint positioning including good bisection of the left ventricle, avoidance of major coronary vessels and avoidance of valve apparatus including chordae leaflets and papillary muscles.
Alignment 420 can be referred to as the anterior/posterior (AP) position. Alignment 422 can be referred as the posterior septal/lateral wall (PSL) position. Alignment 424 can be referred to as the anterior septal/lateral wall (ASL) position. It can be appreciated that the alignments shown illustrative only and that the
alignments may be shifted or rotated about a vertical axis generally disposed through the left ventricle and still avoid the major coronary vessels and papillary muscles. When the alignment passes through a substantial portion of right ventricle C, it may be desirable to dispose not only two pads on the exterior of the heart at opposite ends of a tension member, but also a third pad within right ventricle C on septum J. The spacing between the third pad and the pad disposed outside the heart proximate left ventricle B preferably defines the shape change of left ventricle B. This will allow the spacing of the third pad relative to the pad disposed outside the heart proximate right ventricle C to define a shape change if any of right ventricle C in view of the spacing between those pads. With the alignments as shown in Figure 35, the third pad will be unnecessary. It is likely, however, that with alignments 422 and 424 in order to achieve the desired shape change of left ventricle B, the exterior pad of the wall proximate the right ventricle C will be drawn into contact with septum J. This will consequently somewhat reduce the volume of right ventricle C. Figure 36 is a view of a cylinder or idealized heart chamber 48 which is used to illustrate the reduction of wall stress in a heart chamber as a result of deployment of the splint in accordance with the present invention. The model used herein and the calculations related to this model are intended merely to illustrate the mechanism by which wall stress is reduced in the heart chamber. No effort is made herein to quantify the actual reduction which would be realized in any particular in vivo application.
Figure 38 shows various parameters of the Figure 1 cross-section of the splinted idealized heart chamber of Figure 37. Where 1 is the length of the splint between
opposite walls of the chamber, R is the radius of each lobe, θ is the angle between the
two radii of one lobe which extends to opposite ends of the portion of the splint within chamber 48 and h is the height of the triangle formed by the two radii and the portion of the splint within the chamber 48 (Ri is the radius of the cylinder of Figure 36). These various parameters are related as follows:
h = R2 COS (θ/2)
1 = 2 R2 SIN (θ/2)
R2 = R,π / (2π - θ)
A2 = 2π(R2)2 (l-θ/2π) + hl Where chamber 48 is unsplinted as shown in Figure 36 Ai, the original cross-
sectional area of the cylinder is equal to A2 where θ = 180°, h = 0 and 1 = 2R2. Volume
equals A2 times length L and circumferential wall tension equals pressure within the chamber times R2 times the length L of the chamber. Thus, for example, with an original cylindrical radius of four centimeters and a pressure within the chamber of 140 mm of mercury, the wall tension T in the walls of the cylinder is 104.4 newtons. When a 3.84 cm splint is placed as shown in Figures 37 and 38 such that 1 = 3.84 cm, the wall tension T is 77.33 newtons.
Figures 39 and 40 show a hypothetical distribution of wall tension T and pressure
P for the figure eight cross-section. As θ goes from 180° to 0°, tension Ts in the splint
goes from 0 to a 2T load where the chamber walls carry a T load.
In yet another example, assuming that the chamber length L is a constant 10 cm, the original radius Ri is 4 cm, at a 140 mmHg the tension in the walls is 74.7 N. If a 4.5 cm splint is placed such that 1 = 4.5 cm, the wall tension will then be 52.8 N. When a splint is actually placed on the heart, along an alignment such as those shown in Figure 35, the length 1 between the two pads as measured along the tension member is preferably 0.4 to about 0.8 and more preferably between about 0.5 to about 0.7 and most preferably about 0.6 times the distance along the length of the tension member at end diastole if the pads were not secured to the tension member and provided no resistance to expansion of the heart. A more detailed discussion of tension member length can be found in U.S. Application Serial No. 09 / 123 , 977 , filed on date even herewith and entitled "Transventricular Implant Tools and Devices" which is incorporated herein by reference.
an elongate tension member having two axially disposed ends; and substantially atraumatic anchors disposed at each end, such that the length of the tension member between the anchors is about 1 to 4 inches.
5. The transventricular splint in accordance with claim 1, wherein the tension member is echo cardiograph.
PCT/US1999/016874 1997-01-02 1999-07-27 Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method WO2000006026A3 (en)
US09/124,286 1998-07-29
WO2000006026A2 true true WO2000006026A2 (en) 2000-02-10
WO2000006026A9 true WO2000006026A9 (en) 2000-08-10
WO2000006026A3 true WO2000006026A3 (en) 2001-11-08
PCT/US1999/016874 WO2000006026A3 (en) 1997-01-02 1999-07-27 Heart wall tension reduction apparatus and method
US6059715A (en) 2000-05-09 Heart wall tension reduction apparatus
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