| 摘要 |
The diameter of an annulus in a patient (e.g., the mitral valve annulus) can be reduced using a tissue engaging member that is installed on the annulus and an actuator that is implanted into the patient's body. The tissue engaging member has anchors used to implant the tissue engaging member into the annulus, and a cinching loop runs through the tissue engaging member. The cinching loop terminates onto cinching wires. Preferably, tissue healing is used to enhance the bond between the tissue engaging member and the annulus. The actuator, which can be actuated from outside the patient's body, pulls the cinching wires in a proximal direction while holding the distal end of the cinching wires in close proximity to each other, so as to cause a reduction in the diameter of the cinching loop. This will cause a corresponding reduction in the diameter of the annulus. |
| 主权项 |
1. An apparatus for reducing a diameter of an annulus in a patient, the apparatus comprising:
a tissue engaging member configured for installation on the annulus, the tissue engaging member having a plurality of anchors configured to implant the tissue engaging member into the annulus, and a cinching loop that runs through the tissue engaging member, wherein a first end of the cinching loop is connected to a first cinching wire and wherein a second end of the cinching loop is connected to a second cinching wire; and an actuator configured for implantation into the patient's body, wherein the actuator is configured to, when actuated, pull the first cinching wire and the second cinching wire in a proximal direction while holding a distal end of the first cinching wire in close proximity to a distal end of the second cinching wire, so as to cause a reduction in the diameter of the cinching loop, wherein the actuator is further configured to be actuated from outside the patient's body after the actuator has been implanted in the patient's body. |
