ENCIRCLING IMPLANT DELIVERY SYSTEMS AND METHODS

摘要

Delivery devices for delivering encircling implants can include two separate limbs that are held together at a distal articulation by the implant being delivered. The implant can comprise a suture and/or a braided tube. The implant can extend through or over the limbs. The implant and at least a distal portion of the limbs can be compressible into a delivery shape that allows for advancement through the lumen of a delivery catheter. When the distal portion of the limbs move out of the delivery catheter, the limbs and implant can resiliently assume a loop shape that is complementary to a shape of a target around which the encircling implant is to be placed. The limbs are then retracted from along the implant to leave the implant in the desired delivery position. The delivery device can be used to place encircling implants around the heart or other targets, and the implant can be tightened to exert compressive force on the target.

主权项

1. A device for delivering through a catheter an encircling implant around a portion of a target structure in a body, the device comprising:
first and second delivery limbs linked at an articulation region between distal ends of the first and second limbs by a continuous flexible encircling implant that is to be delivered and which extends through or over the first and second limbs to maintain the distal ends of the first and second limbs together in an articulating relationship at a distal articulation tip, wherein at least a distal limb portion of each limb is resiliently deformable into the delivery shape but when not deformed into the delivery shape is configured to cooperatively form with the contralateral limb a loop that can be placed circumferentially around the portion of the target structure in order to locate the encircling implant around the portion of the target structure.