DEVICES FOR REDUCING CARDIAC VALVE REGURGITATION

摘要

The present invention relates to devices and methods for improving the function of a defective heart valve, and particularly for reducing regurgitation through an atrioventricular heart valve—i.e., the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve. For a tricuspid repair, the device includes an anchor deployed in the tissue of the right ventricle, in an orifice opening to the right atrium, or anchored to the tricuspid valve. A flexible anchor rail connects to the anchor and a coaptation element on a catheter rides over the anchor rail. The catheter attaches to the proximal end of the coaptation element, and a locking mechanism fixes the position of the coaptation element relative to the anchor rail. Finally, there is a proximal anchoring feature to fix the proximal end of the coaptation catheter subcutaneously adjacent the subclavian vein. The coaptation element includes an inert covering and helps reduce regurgitation through contact with the valve leaflets.

主权项

1. An implantable heart valve coaptation system for reducing regurgitation through native leaflets of a target heart valve, comprising the following implantable elements:
a delivery catheter having a lumen, the delivery catheter being made of material suitable for implant in the human body the delivery catheter having a proximal anchor adapted to anchor into tissue located at one of either an annulus of the target heart valve, the inferior vena cava (IVC), or the right atrium (RA) and a length sufficient to extend from the proximal anchor to the target heart valve, a section of the catheter having perforations open to the lumen; and a valve leaflet coaptation element fixed on a distal end of the delivery catheter over a section of the catheter having perforations opening to a lumen of the catheter, the coaptation element having an outer cover secured on proximal and distal ends to the catheter to provide a closed chamber around the perforations, and a plurality of flexible metallic struts that define a compressible/expandable inner frame structure within the outer cover such that the outer cover may alternately deform inward and spring outward with flow through the perforations, the coaptation element being made of material suitable for implant in the human body.