APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELONGATION OF A PAPILLARY MUSCLE

摘要

A system and method for treating a dilated heart valve by elongating a papillary muscle. The system comprises a delivery catheter (110) and a holding catheter (130). The system further comprises a muscle elongation device (200) including at least two clamping rings (210), (215) slidably connected by at least one connecting rod (220). The muscle elongation device (200) is delivered to a papillary muscle (560) associated with the dilated heart valve, where it is released from the delivery catheter (110) and the clamping rings (210), (215) wrap about and engage the papillary muscle. The muscle tissue is cut between the clamping rings (210), (215), which then move away from each other to a predetermined position, thus permitting the papillary muscle to elongate.