Methods and devices for improving cardiac function in hearts
Various methods and devices are disclosed for improving cardiac function in hearts having zones of infarcted (akinetic) and aneurysmal (dyskinetic) tissue regions. The methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature in walls of the heart proximal infarcted and aneurysmal regions to reduce wall stress and improve pumping efficiency. The inventive methods and related devices include splinting of the chamber wall proximal the infarcted region and various other devices and methods including suture and patch techniques.
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This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/124,286 filed Jul. 29, 1998, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/933,456 filed Sep. 18, 1997, now pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/778,277, filed Jan. 2, 1997, now pending.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention pertains to the field of apparatus for treatment of a failing heart. In particular, the apparatus and its related methods of the present invention is directed toward reducing the wall stress in the failing heart. The present invention further includes methods and devices for improving cardiac function in hearts having discrete zones of infarcted tissue. Such methods and devices reduce the radius of curvature and/or alter the geometry or shape of the infarcted tissue and adjacent regions to thereby reduce wall stress on the heart and improve the heart's pumping performance.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONThe 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 these processes result in dilatation of the left ventricular chamber. Etiologies that can lead to this form of failure include idiopathic, valvular, viral, and ischemic cardiomyopathies.
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 treatments for heart failure associated with such dilatation fall into three general categories. The first being pharmacological, for example, diuretics and ACE inhibitors. 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 indirectly by 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 (ACE) inhibitors have been used to treat heart failure through the reduction of cardiac workload by reducing afterload. Afterload may be defined as the tension or stress required in the wall of the ventricle during ejection. Inotropes 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.
There are at least four surgical procedures for treatment of heart failure associated with dilatation: 1) heart transplantation; 2) dynamic cardiomyoplasty; 3) the Batista partial left ventriculectomy; and 4) the Jatene and Dor procedures for ischemic cardiomyopathy, discussed in more detail below. Heart transplantation has serious limitations including restricted availability of organs and adverse effects of immunosuppressive therapies required following heart transplantation. Cardiomyoplasty involves wrapping the heart with skeletal muscle and electrically stimulating the muscle to contract synchronously with the heart in order to help the pumping function of the heart. The Batista partial left ventriculectomy surgically remodels the left ventricle by removing a segment of the muscular wall. This procedure reduces the diameter of the dilated heart, which in turn reduces the loading of the heart. However, this extremely invasive procedure reduces muscle mass of the heart.
One form of heart failure, ischemic cardiomyopathy, results from the formation of one or more zones of ischemia, or infarction, of the myocardium. Infarction occurs when blood supply to the heart tissue has been obstructed resulting in a region of tissue that loses its ability to contract (referred to as infarcted tissue). The presence of infarcted tissue may lead to three conditions in the heart causing cardiac malfunction. These conditions are ventricular aneurysms (ventricular dyskinesia), non-aneurysmal ischemic or infarcted myocardium (ventricular akinesia), and mitral regurgitation.
Ventricular aneurysms typically result from a transmural myocardial infarction, frequently due to the occlusion of the left anterior descending artery (LAD). This results in a transmural infarcted region of the apical portion of the left ventricle and anterior septal. A ventricular aneurysm is formed when the infarction weakens the heart wall to such an extent that the tissue stretches and thins, causing the left ventricular wall to expand during systole (dyskinesia).
The ventricular aneurysm also may be dyskinetic, meaning that when the ventricle contracts, the aneurysm further dilates, or bulges, outward. The infarcted region of the septal wall S also may be particularly dyskinetic, especially in the case of the infarcted tissue having progressed to an aneurysm.
The bulge resulting from an aneurysm can have several serious effects on the heart and its performance that can lead to in both morbidity and mortality. For example, because the bulge creates a geometric abnormality as well as a region of non-contracting tissue, thrombosis is more likely to occur in that region. Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot, or thrombus, that can cause other medical complications, such as a stroke. An ischemic stroke is a blockage of blood flow to the brain that occurs when the thrombus breaks free and is ejected out of the ventricle.
Another serious effect this bulging can have is the denigration of the heart's pumping function. The aneurysmal bulge creates problems with pumping function in at least three ways. First, the infarcted tissue does not contribute to the pumping of the ventricle because it does not contract (akinesia). To account for this loss of pumping, remaining portions of the ventricle wall may contract more to maintain cardiac output. If the infarcted region thins and progresses to an aneurysm (dyskinesia), this effect is further exacerbated by the aneurysm expanding with a portion of the blood from the ventricular contraction. This further increases the contractile requirement of the remaining functional myocardium.
Second, the aneurysmal bulge alters the geometry of the entire ventricular chamber. Thus the ventricle develops a larger radius of curvature, which directly applies more tension to the heart wall, as characterized by LaPlace's law. Third, over time, the above two conditions lead the functional muscle of the ventricle to work harder than normal. This can lead to continued dilatation of the ventricle, increasing tension in the walls of the heart, with increased myocardial oxygen requirement and further progressing heart failure.
Non-aneurysmal ischemic or infarcted myocardium (akinesia) occurs when a major coronary artery is occluded and results in infarction in the myocardial tissue, but without a bulging aneurysm. In a manner similar to an aneurysm, the akinetic ischemic or infarcted zone ceases to participate in the ventricular contraction. This results in the functioning, contractile myocardium needing to contract more to-make up for the lack of contraction of the akinetic zone. Typically, the result is the entire ventricle increasing in size, which increases wall stress. Again, since the functioning myocardium must work harder, continuing progression of heart failure can occur.
Mitral regurgitation also may result from infarcted tissue, depending on the region of the ventricle that has become infarcted or aneurysmal and any subsequent overall ventricular dilation. Mitral regurgitation is a condition whereby blood leaks through the mitral valve due to an improper positioning of the valve structures that causes it not to close entirely. If the infarcted or aneurysmal region is located in the vicinity of the mitral valve, geometric abnormalities may cause the mitral valve to alter its normal position and dimension, and may lead to annular dilatation and the development of mitral regurgitation.
Typical treatments of infarcted tissue, and ventricular aneurysms in particular, include a variety of open surgical procedures. In the case of a ventricular aneurysm, traditionally, a “linear” aneurysmectomy is performed. This procedure involves the removal of aneurysmal portions of the anterior wall along with any thrombus that may exist.
These procedures have to be performed with the patient on cardiopulmonary bypass. The heart also may be stopped in order to perform the surgery. Any thrombus inside the ventricle is removed. Clinical results of this traditional surgical procedure have been mixed with respect to improvement in cardiac function.
Newer surgical approaches include the “Dor” and “Jatene” procedures. In the “Dor” procedure, the aneurysm is removed and an endocardial patch is placed to cover the dyskinetic septal wall portion of the aneurysm. In this manner, at least the portion of stroke volume “lost” to dyskinesia is restored. In the “Jatene” technique, a purse string suture is placed at the base of the aneurysm. The infarcted septal wall is circumferentially reduced by inbrication with sutures. The result is that most of the aneurysmal tissue is excluded from the ventricle. These procedures address the infarcted septal wall, generally left untouched in the traditional linear aneurysmectomy, by either exclusion or by the use of a surgical patch. These newer techniques are also used in cases of non-aneurysmal infarctions (akinesia). In these cases, the exclusion or elimination of the infarcted region reduces the size and therefore the radius of the chamber, thereby lowering wall stress.
These various described techniques for treating infarcted and aneurysmal tissue regions in the heart wall suffer from limitations and drawbacks. For instance, many of the surgical techniques involve invasive incisions in the heart wall which can be traumatic and risky to patients. Also, while these procedures attempt to improve cardiac function by removal of the aneurysm or infarcted tissue, they only minimally reduce the wall stress of the remaining contractile ventricle. Furthermore, patients typically undergo cardiopulmonary bypass and/or their heart is stopped during many of these surgeries.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe advantages and purpose of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages and purpose of the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
Due to the drawbacks and limitations of the previous techniques for treating dilated, infarcted, and aneurysmal tissue in hearts, there exists a need for alternative methods and devices that are less invasive, pose less risk to the patient, and are likely to prove more clinically effective. The present invention provides improvements in these areas over the existing techniques.
One aspect of the present invention pertains to a non-pharmacological, passive apparatus and method for the treatment of a failing heart due to dilatation. The device is configured to reduce the tension in the heart wall. It is believed to reverse, stop or slow the disease process of a failing heart as it reduces the energy consumption of the failing heart, decreases isovolumetric contraction, increases isotonic contraction (sarcomere shortening), which in turn increases stroke volume. The device reduces wall tension during-diastole and systole.
These 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.
Yet another embodiment of the invention includes a clamp having two ends biased toward one another for drawing at least two walls of a heart chamber toward each other. The clamp includes at least two ends having atraumatic anchoring members disposed thereon for engagement with the heart or chamber wall.
In yet another embodiment, a heart wall tension reduction apparatus is provided which includes a first tension member having two oppositely disposed ends and first and second elongate anchor members. A second tension member can be provided. One of the elongate anchors may be substituted for by two smaller anchors.
In an alternate embodiment of the heart wall tension reduction apparatus, an elongate compression member can be provided. First and second elongate lever members preferably extend from opposite ends of the compression member. A tension member extends between the first and second lever members.
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.
One method of placing a heart wall tension apparatus or splint on a human heart includes the step of extending a hollow needle through at least one chamber of the heart such that each end of the needle is external to the chamber. A flexible leader is connected to a first end of a tension member. A second end of the tension member is connected to an atraumatic pad. The leader is advanced through the needle from one end of the needle to the other. The leader is further advanced until the second end of the tension member is proximate the heart and the first end of the tension member is external to the heart. A second atraumatic pad is connected to the first end of the tension member such that the first and second atraumatic pads engage the heart.
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.
In the treatment of heart failure due to infarcted tissue, possibly including an aneurysm as well, another aspect of the invention involves placing the splint relative to the infarcted or aneurysmal zone, and, in a preferred embodiment, diametrically across the infarcted or aneurysmal zone, to decrease the stress on the infarcted tissue and adjacent border zone tissue. An alternative to diametric placement of the splint includes placing one atraumatic anchor member of the splint at the center of the infarcted or aneurysmal region, extending the splint across the entire heart chamber, and placing the second atraumatic anchor member on the opposite chamber wall. In the case of infarcted or aneurysmal tissue in the vicinity of the mitral valve, an aspect of the present invention includes a method of placing the splint adjacent but below the mitral valve to draw the papillary muscles together or the walls of the valve seat together. It is also envisioned to use the splint both as the sole device for treating infarcted tissue and aneurysms or in combination with the surgical techniques described earlier.
An external splint, using a compression member, also may be used to treat a heart having infarcted or aneurysmal tissue. The compression member is placed entirely exterior to the heart and positioned so as to result in similar effects as discussed above with reference to the splint.
Other inventive methods and devices to treat infarcted tissue and aneurysms include a variety of patching and suturing methods and related devices. Each of these methods and related devices reduces the radius of curvature of the infarcted wall region and adjacent regions and contains the infarcted region to stop further progression.
A further aspect of the invention involves the identification of aneurysmal and infarcted regions using any one or more of a variety of devices and methods. These devices and methods, which will be described more specifically herein, include a bipolar electrode, liquid dye injection and tracing, fiber optics, MRI, and ultrasound. These devices can be used to distinguish between healthy and infarcted heart tissue.
In accordance with the purposes of the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, methods and related devices for treating a heart having infarcted tissue in one of its chambers are disclosed. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a method for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in its chamber includes deforming a wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue such that a radius of curvature of the wall is reduced.
In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the method involves providing at least one tension member having two ends and an anchor on each end. The tension member is positioned transverse to the chamber to reduce the radius of curvature of the wall of the chamber that includes the infarcted tissue and/or to draw the walls containing the infarcted tissue together.
In another preferred embodiment, the present invention involves positioning a tension member having anchors on each of its ends transverse to the heart chamber so that the infarcted tissue is drawn toward an interior of the heart chamber. The anchors are placed exterior to the chamber.
In yet another preferred embodiment, the present invention includes positioning a compression member having a first end and a second end, each having anchor m-embers around an exterior of the heart. The compression member is positioned so as to surround the chamber with infarcted tissue and to reduce the radius of curvature of the portion of the heart wall that has the infarcted tissue.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment, a method of treating a heart having infarcted tissue in one of its chambers involves epicardial suturing around the perimeter of a region of infarcted tissue and pulling free ends of the suture to draw the infarcted tissue region together. The suture is then secured to hold the infarcted tissue together. This suture also may be employed in combination with a myocardial patch or a substantially rigid enclosure member, both of which represent other preferred embodiments of the present invention.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a method of treating a heart having infarcted tissue in one of its chambers involves positioning an enclosure member around a zone of infarcted tissue. During the positioning, the enclosure member has a first configuration. After positioning, the enclosure member is then secured to a wall of the heart and the enclosure member reconfigures to a second configuration. Upon reconfiguration to the second configuration, the radius of curvature of the portion of the heart wall including the infarcted tissue reduces.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for treating a heart having a zone of infarcted tissue in one of its chambers is provided. The apparatus includes an enclosure member adapted to assume a first configuration during placement of the enclosure member around an infarcted tissue zone. The enclosure member further is adapted to assume a second configuration after securing the enclosure member to a heart wall surrounding the chamber. The second configuration draws the infarcted tissue toward a center of the enclosure member and reduces the radius of curvature of the heart wall.
In accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a device for treating a heart having infarcted tissue in one of its chambers is provided. The device includes a patch adapted to be attached to the heart, with a substantially elongated member secured to the patch. When the patch is placed over the infarcted or aneurysmal tissue region, the elongated member tends to push the infarcted tissue region toward an interior of the heart chamber.
In accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of sutures are attached at one end to points on a chamber wall proximate to an infarcted tissue region and the sutures are extended up through a space defined by an enclosure member to draw the infarcted tissue together and through the enclosure member. The other ends of the sutures are then attached to points on the wall of the chamber to hold the tissue in place. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings,
The various aspects of the invention to be discussed herein generally pertain to devices and methods for treating heart conditions, including, for example, dilatation and infarction, including infarction causing aneurysms. For the purposes of providing clarity and consistency throughout the remaining description of the invention, the following terms have the general definitions set forth below:
-
- “infarction” or “infarcted”: refers to myocardium (also described as tissue or muscle) that has lost its ability to contract as a result of cellular necrosis, this term can include, for example, aneurysmal tissue and scar tissue that replaces the necrotic cellular muscle tissue;
- “aneurysm” or “aneurysmal”: refers to infarcted myocardium that is dyskinetic with respect to surrounding portions of the myocardium;
- “contractile”: refers to myocardium that is not infarcted and has generally retained contractile potential, though this muscle tissue may not be fully contracting given other conditions, e.g. too much wall stress; and
- “border zone”: refers to chamber wall that has a region of infarcted tissue and a region of contractile tissue through its thickness.
These definitions are generally consistent with the accepted definitions recognized by those skilled in the art.
The devices of the present invention operate passively in that, once placed in the heart, they do not require an active stimulus either mechanical, electrical, or otherwise, to function. The devices alter the shape or geometry of the heart, both locally and globally, and increase the heart's efficiency by their placement with respect to the heart. That is, the heart experiences an increased pumping efficiency through an alteration in its shape or geometry and concomitant reduction in stress on the heart walls.
The inventive devices and methods offer numerous advantages over the existing treatments for various heart conditions. The devices are relatively easy to manufacture and use, and the related surgical techniques for their implementation do not require the invasive procedures of current surgical techniques. For instance, the surgical technique does not necessarily require removing portions of the heart tissue, opening the heart chamber, or stopping the heart. For these reasons, the surgical techniques of the present invention are also less risky to the patient than other techniques.
The devices and methods of the present invention used to treat infarcted tissue and aneurysms also are likely to be more effective than prior devices. As will be described, the inventive devices alter the shape or geometry of the chamber, either globally or locally, and reduce the radius of curvature of the chamber wall, resulting in lower stresses in the heart wall. Moreover, with many of the inventive devices there is no need to open the heart chamber to deploy the device, even when the device is deployed on the septal wall. These methods and devices also could be used in conjunction with coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). In CABG surgery, the use of the inventive methods and related devices allow for quickly reducing stress on the myocardium, which may save “stunned” tissue, i.e., tissue that is being starved of nutrients carried with the blood flow, that otherwise may not be recoverable after a certain time period. Also, the inventive methods and device may hinder further progression or dilation of scarred, non-contractile tissue.
The disclosed inventive methods and related devices involve geometric reshaping of the heart. In certain aspects of the inventive methods and related devices, substantially the entire chamber geometry is altered to return the heart to a more normal configuration.
Other aspects of the inventive methods and devices involve geometric reshaping a particular area of the chamber and/or reducing the radius of curvature of the chamber wall in that area. When portions of the heart wall form a bulge due to an aneurysm, the radius of much of the heart chamber changes. This increases stress on the heart walls. Additionally, the healthy regions of the heart work harder to pump in order to make up pumping volume due to lost contractility in the infarcted tissue region. Together, these effects limit the pumping effectiveness of the heart and can contribute to further degradation of the heart. Geometrically reshaping the area of the aneurysm by, for example, reducing the radius of curvature of the wall, lowers stress on the wall regions in that vicinity and improves pumping function. In addition, the geometric reshaping permits the scar tissue to heal in a more organized fashion and reduces progression of the scar tissue into other areas and further aneurysmal bulging.
Although many of the methods and devices are discussed below in connection with their use in the left ventricle of the heart, these methods and devices may be used in other chambers of the heart for similar purposes. One of ordinary skill in the art would understand that the use of the devices and methods described herein would be substantially the same if employed in other chambers of the heart. The left ventricle has been selected for illustrative purposes because a large number of the disorders that the present invention treats occur in the left ventricle.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
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.
Each of the various embodiments of the present invention disclosed in
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.
As will be described in more detail herein,
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
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.
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.
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 member, in a preferred embodiment, articulates with respect to the anchor pad to reduce bending of the tension member at the pad. This can be accomplished by a ball and socket joint shown in
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.
The anchors or anchor pads and, particularly the tension members are biocompatible, preferably antithrombogenic and made to prevent hemolysis. The coatings used to enhance bio-resistance described above can generally be used to improve biocompatibility. Since the tension member is exposed to significant blood flows through the left ventricle, in a preferred embodiment, the tension member has a generally small size and shape elliptical cross sectional shape to reduce turbulence or drag over the tension member. If such elliptical, transverse cross section tension member were used, it can be appreciated that the narrow end would be preferably oriented toward the direction of blood flow. It is also desirable to select a tension member material and shape which would not vibrate at resonant frequency under the influence of blood flow.
Where the tension member passes through the heart wall, various approaches can be taken to reduce or prevent bleeding. For example, the surface of the anchor or anchor pad and/or tension member in contact with the heart wall can be coated or include an ingrowth inducing covering such as collagen, dacron, expanded PTFE or a roughened/porous surface. A clotting inducing substance may also be bound to the tension member and/or anchor or anchor pads, such as avitene or collagen. It is also contemplated that the portion of the heart wall where the tension member passes through could be cauterized. In a preferred embodiment, the tissue can be cauterized by heating the tension member. A glue such as cyanoacrylate can also be disposed between the tension member and the heart wall to reduce-or prevent bleeding from the heart wall. Mechanical means such as an O-ring or compression fitting could also be disposed between the heart wall and the tension member to reduce bleeding. A purse string suture can be placed on the heart, around the tension member adjacent the pad as well.
The tension member is preferably flexible enough to allow for changing interface conditions between the heart and the splint, and alternating pad orientation throughout the cardiac cycle. The flexibility should be sufficient enough to avoid injury to the heart or bleeding. It is also preferable that if the heart were to contract sufficiently enough to put the tension member in compression that it would readily buckle. Buckling could be promoted by providing a ribbon shaped tension member, chain link tension member, thin wire tension member, bent tension member or multi-filament tension member.
The tension member is preferably radiopaque, echo cardiographic visible, or MRI compatible or includes a marker which is radiopaque, echo visible, or MRI compatible. The preferred locations for markers would-include the center of the tension member and at the ends of the tension member disposed at the heart walls. The radiopaque markers could be gold or platinum or other biocompatible metal or heavy metal filled polymeric sleeves. With respect to echo compatible or MRI compatible tension members or markers, the tension or marker are preferably non-interfering or visible. Having radiopaque echo compatible or MRI compatible tension members or markers is particularly desirable for follow-up, non-invasive monitoring of the tension member after implantation. The presence of the tension member can be visualized and the distance between two or more markers measured. Integrity of the tension member can be confirmed as well.
In a preferred embodiment, the tension member is not conductive to the action potential of muscle. This can be accomplished by insulating the tension member, anchor and/or anchor pad interface or fabricating the tension member anchor and/or anchor pad from a non-conductive metal such as titanium.
In addition to monitoring the performance of the tension member by visualization techniques such as fluoroscopy or echo imagery, sensors can advantageously be incorporated into the splints. For example, a strain gauge can be disposed on a tension member to monitor the loading on the member in use. Strain can be related to load as known to those skilled in the art by developing a stress/strain relationship for a given tension member. The strain gauge can be connected by a biocompatible lead to a conventional monitoring device. A pressure gauge formed from, for example, piezo electric material can also be disposed on the tension member to monitor filling pressures or muscle contractility.
In a preferred embodiment, a tension member can be slidably enclosed within a tube. If the tension member were to fail, the tube would contain the tension member therein.
It is anticipated that the tension member could be connected to a pacing lead. In such an instance, if the tension member were conductive, pacing signals could be conveyed along the tension member from one heart wall to another.
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
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. patent application Ser. No. 09/123,977, filed on Jul. 29, 1998 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.
It can be appreciated that the alignments shown are 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 septal 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
h=R2COS(θ/2)
I=2R2SIN(θ/2)
R2═Rn(2π−θ)
From these relationships, the area of the figure eight cross-section can be calculated by:
A2=2π(R2−)2(1−θ/2π)+hl
Where chamber 48 is unsplinted as shown in
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
In yet another example, assuming that the chamber length L is a constant 10 cm, the original radius R1, 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 l=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
As mentioned earlier,
In addition to the various uses of the splint to treat ventricular dilatation as heretofore discussed, the inventive splint also can be used to treat infarcted tissue or aneurysms occurring on the heart wall, as illustrated by
Splint 16 reduces the radius of curvature of the aneurysmal region A and the adjacent regions of the chamber wall. By reducing the radius of curvature in these regions, contractile regions 24″ of the myocardium that were under high stress due to geometric abnormalities associated with an aneurysmal region A are relieved from that high stress, thereby resulting in increased pumping ability upon contraction. Even if the infarcted tissue has not led to bulging of the heart wall, reducing the radius of curvature helps to reduce some of the stress in the adjacent contractile myocardium. By increasing the pumping ability of the contractile myocardium 24″, the heart can more easily pump the required blood flow output, helping to offset the pumping lost by the infarcted muscle 24. Those regions of the chamber wall that have only endocardial infarcted tissue, that is border zone regions 24′, likely will experience an increase in their ability to contract and contribute to pumping.
It is also contemplated to use more than one splint, and splints having i different lengths, to optimize the reduction in the radius of curvature of infarcted and aneurysmal regions and adjacent regions. Another contemplated mode of the invention includes closing off the infarcted or aneurysmal region completely by Shortening the splint so that the walls adjacent the anchors contact each other. Closing off the infarcted or aneurysmal tissue from the rest of the heart chamber in this way renders this tissue completely non-functional with respect to contributing to the pumping. Shortening the splint to achieve contact of the heart walls may also reduce the risk of embolic thrombus because no blood would be expected to flow into the excluded region. Additionally, the need to remove any thrombus already adhered to the heart wall may be unnecessary because the thrombus would have no way of escaping back into the heart chamber to cause stroke or other malfunctions. If the infarcted or aneurysmal tissue extends to the septal wall of the chamber, the splint would be placed across the chamber so as to exclude the non-contractile tissue of the septal wall as well.
As described earlier,
Bringing infarcted tissue 24 into the chamber, as shown in
By utilizing splint 16, the radius of curvature, particularly with respect to the short axis direction, is reduced. This reduction of curvature facilitates the pumping ability of any portions near the infarcted region 24 that have some contractile potential by reducing wall stress in the region. By allowing this once marginally contractile tissue to increase its contractile ability, the heart improves its ejection fraction, cardiac reserve, and muscle contractibility. Additionally, the remainder of the ventricle also experiences a reduced radius of curvature, as shown in
Another use for splint 16 in treating heart chambers having infarcted or aneurysmal tissue is shown with reference to
If the infarcted tissue is not removed, as shown in
Another-use of the splint to treat infarcted or aneurysmal tissue near the base of a mitral valve MV is shown in
The present invention also includes myocardial patches and related methods used to treat aneurysms.
As shown in
A-three-dimensional patch also is contemplated by the present invention. Such a patch could be inflatable or solid. The patch would consist of an essentially flat surface configured to lie flush with the epicardial surface and a bulging surface that would engage with the aneurysmal region to push the aneurysm into the chamber in a manner similar to the stake described above. A suture ring may be placed around the perimeter of the flat surface to secure the patch into place on the heart.
A further embodiment of the present invention is a shrinkable patch for treating aneurysms. For example, such a patch may be made of heat-shrinkable material and applied via sutures to the aneurysmal tissue region while the tissue is in a relaxed state. Gentle heat, such as that produced by, for example, a hot air gun, an infrared heating lamp, or other similar heating mechanisms, would then be applied to shrink the patch. This shrinking also will cause the size of the affected area to be decreased by being pulled in tightly with the shrinking patch, thereby reducing the radius of curvature of the adjacent myocardium. The patch may be made of any suitable material compatible with the human body and having heat-shrinking characteristics. Examples of such a material include oriented polyethylene, oriented polypropylene, and a woven Dacron polyester of partially-oriented yam. Partially-oriented yarn is capable of significant longitudinal shrinkage when heated. Additionally, targeting and heating certain areas yields a non-uniform shrinking that more precisely tailors the resulting configuration of the patch and the affected tissue region.
Another embodiment of the present invention, which may be used either alone or in combination with a patch, is a purse-string suture 50, as shown in
Another enclosure device is shown in
Alternatively, enclosure member 61 can be formed of a spring metal, such as, for example, high tensile strength stainless steel. When such a material is used, the enclosure member is initially processed into the elliptical or oval configuration. The enclosure member is then attached around a circular polymer, or other suitable material, sheet to form and maintain a circular shape during attachment of the ring to the ventricle. Once attached, the circular polymer sheet is removed, causing the enclosure member to spring back to its original elliptical shape.
Other embodiments of the present invention include enclosure members that deform non-uniformly, either by having a non-uniform configuration at the shape memory transformation temperature, or at the initial processing shape of the spring metal. It also should be noted that enclosure member 61 can take on any suitable shape both before application and after, depending on such factors as, for example, the particular infarcted region to be treated and the desired final radius of curvature.
The tie enclosure also allows for non-uniform drawing in of the affected tissue region by using a plurality of sutures of varying lengths. Thus, the tie enclosure allows for particular regions of the aneurysm or infarction to be targeted and drawn in while others are left intact or drawn in to a lesser degree. This allows for a more precise change in geometrical configuration that may be necessary due to non-uniformities existing in the initial geometry of the infarcted or aneurysmal region. Enclosure member 60 also may be made of a flexible material so as to allow enclosure member 60 to take on a non-uniform configuration when sutures 62 are drawn and secured.
As discussed previously, enclosure member 60 may be made of a rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material, depending on the particular application for which the device will be used. The shape of enclosure member 60 can be that of a ring as shown in
Using enclosure member 60 and sutures 62 in the manner described with respect to
Yet another form of an enclosure member contemplated by the present invention is illustrated in
In treating infarcted tissue and aneurysms with the various inventive methods and devices discussed above, it may be necessary to identify and distinguish between the infarcted tissue regions of the chamber wall and the contractile tissue regions of the chamber wall. Thus, a further aspect of the invention consists of the use of various devices for performing such identification in order to achieve precise placement of the inventive devices, including the splints, sutures, patches, and rings. The identification devices can be used either endocardially, epicardially, or transcardially, depending on which treatment procedure is being performed.
One such method of identifying infarcted tissue regions from contractile tissue regions involves the use of a bipolar electrode. Using the electrode, differences in impedance sensed by the electrode will indicate regions of infarcted versus contractile tissue.
Another method involves the use of fiber optics to distinguish infarcted from contractile regions of tissue. In this case, the fiber optics sense either density or color differences in transmitted or reflected light. Such differences would indicate whether a region contained infarcted tissue or contractile tissue. For instance, a known intensity of light could be directed toward a tissue region, with a known inominal intensity transmitting through contractile tissue regions. Intensities of the transmitted light through the chamber wall could then be measured. Upon sensing a decrease in intensity from the nominal value, the infarcted region could be pinpointed. Border zones also could be sensed in this way by looking for a gradation in transmission differences from the nominal value to a lowest value.
Another method to locate regions of infarcted versus contractile tissue can be employed during the surgical procedure itself. This method involves the injection of radioactive media, such as in a thallium scan, with “real-time” imaging of the radiation during the surgery through the use of a Geiger counter contact probe. Higher observed radiation densities indicate regions of perfused tissue. Yet another injection method uses a visible dye injected into coronary vessels to identify contractile perfused tissue. In this identification technique,.the dye travels only to contractile tissue, not to infarcted or scarred tissue regions. Finally TEE, or transesophageal echo ultrasounds may be used to detect regions of infarcted tissue.
Aside from those listed above, other methods are contemplated to locate infarcted tissue regions. For example, the surgeon may use his fingers to probe the outer surface of the chamber wall and feel for differences in the tissue regions.
All of the inventive passive devices to be implanted in the heart may be made of biocompatible material that can remain in the human body indefinitely. Any surface engaging portions of the heart should be atraumatic in order to avoid tissue damage.
It will be understood that this disclosure, in many respects, is only illustrative. Changes may be made in details, particularly in matters of shape, size, material, number and arrangement of parts without exceeding the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is as defined in the language of the appended claims.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
Claims
1-77. (canceled)
78. A device for treating mitral valve regurgitation, comprising:
- a tether;
- a distal anchoring member positioned adjacent to a distal end of the tether; and
- a proximal anchoring member positioned adjacent to a proximal end of the tether; wherein at least one of the anchoring members includes an elastic portion that flexes when the tensioning device is positioned across a chamber of a heart.
79. The device of claim 78 wherein the elastic portion comprises a material selected from a group consisting of a titanium alloy, stainless steel, a biocompatible shape-memory material, a biocompatible superelastic material, and a combination thereof.
80. The device of claim 78 wherein the elastic portion comprises a plurality of flexible arm segments.
81. The device of claim 80 wherein the flexible arm segments of at least one of the anchoring members self-expand adjacent the surfaces of a wall of a chamber of a heart.
82. The device of claim 78 wherein the tether comprises a material selected from a group consisting of stainless steel, titanium, a nickel-titanium alloy, urethane, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), a flexible and strong biocompatible material, and a combination thereof.
83. The device of claim 78 wherein at least a portion of the tether has a helical configuration.
84. The device of claim 78 further comprising: at least one sealing member.
85. The device of claim 78 wherein at least a portion of the tensioning device includes a therapeutic agent selected from a group consisting of an antithrombotic, an anticoagulant, an antibiotic, an anti-inflammatory, and a combination thereof.
86. An implant system to affect a shape of a heart valve annulus comprising a first component sized and configured to engage tissue along a major axis of the annulus and a second component sized and configured, concurrent with the first component, to engage and inwardly displace tissue along a minor axis of the annulus.
87. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the first component is sized and configured to inwardly displace tissue along the major axis.
88. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the first component is sized and configured to stabilize tissue along the major axis.
89. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the first and second components comprise separate components.
90. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the first and second components comprise an integrated body.
91. An implant according to claim 86, wherein the first component is sized and configured to engage tissue while in compression.
92. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the first component includes a fixation element that engages tissue at, near, or in a leaflet commissure of the annulus.
93. An implant system according to claim 86, wherein the second component includes a fixation element that engages tissue at, near, or in the annulus.
94. A device for treating tissue near a valve to modify flow through the valve, comprising:
- an elongate body having a central region and at least two anchoring regions on opposing end portions of the central region, wherein each anchoring region is configured to be anchored to opposing areas of tissue against or adjacent to an annulus of the valve and urge the areas of tissue towards one another;
- the elongate body being further configured for delivery through a catheter to the tissue whereby the elongate body has a first shape during the delivery and a second shape after the delivery.
95. The device of claim 94 wherein the valve comprises a cardiac valve.
96. The device of claim 94 wherein the central region comprises a continuous alternating length.
97. The device of claim 94 wherein each of the anchoring regions comprise a fastener.
98. The device of claim 94 the elongate body being interwoven such that a plurality of spaces are defined therebetween in the second shape.
99. The device of claim 94 further comprising a biocompatible fastener for attaching each of the anchoring regions to the tissue.
100. The device of claim 99 wherein the biocompatible fastener comprises a distal end and a proximal end, the proximal end defining a projection for securing the anchoring region, and the distal end being configured for attachment to the tissue.
101. The device of claim 94 wherein each of the anchoring regions is biased towards the central region.
102. The device of claim 94 wherein the elongate body comprises Nickel-Titanium alloy.
103. The device of claim 94 wherein the elongate body is at least partially coated with a coating layer.
104. The device of claim 94 wherein the catheter comprises an elongate tubular member having a distal end and a proximal end with a lumen therebetween, the distal end defining a delivery port configured to pass the elongate body therethrough.
105. The device of claim 104 wherein the catheter further comprises a stylet having a distal end and a proximal end with a length therebetween, the stylet being slidingly disposed in the lumen and being manipulatable from its proximal end.
106. The device of claim 105 wherein the stylet distal end is angled.
107. The device of claim 105 wherein the catheter further comprises a linear advancement mechanism connected to the proximal end of the stylet.
108. A method for treating tissue near a valve to modify flow through the valve, comprising:
- providing an elongate body having a central region, a first anchoring region, and a second anchoring region, each of the anchoring regions being attached to opposing end portions of the central region;
- placing a delivery catheter near the tissue;
- urging the elongate body through a distal opening defined in the catheter such that the first anchoring region exits the distal opening and attaches to a first area of the tissue against or adjacent to an annulus of the valve; and
- further urging the elongate body through the distal opening such that the second anchoring region exits the distal opening and attaches to a second area of the tissue against or adjacent to the annulus of the valve such that the first area and the second area are urged towards one another by the elongate body.
109. The method of claim 108 wherein the valve comprises a cardiac valve.
110. The method of claim 108 further comprising providing a biocompatible fastener for attaching the first and the second anchoring regions to the first and the second areas of tissue.
111. The method of claim 108 wherein the elongate body is comprised of a shape memory alloy.
112. The method of claim 111 wherein the shape memory alloy comprises Nickel-Titanium alloy.
113. The method of claim 108 wherein the first anchoring region forms a shape configured for attachment to the first area of the tissue upon exiting the distal opening.
114. The method of claim 108 wherein the second anchoring region forms a shape configured for attachment to the second area of the tissue upon exiting the distal opening.
115. The method of claim 108 wherein the first area and the second area are located about 180 degrees apart.
116. The method of claim 108 wherein urging the elongate body through the distal opening defined in the catheter comprises advancing a stylet having a distal end and a proximal end with a length therebetween through the delivery catheter.
117. The method of claim 116 wherein the stylet distal end is angled.
118. The method of claim 116 wherein the stylet is advanced by a linear advancement mechanism connected at the proximal end of the stylet.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 23, 2005
Publication Date: Jul 20, 2006
Applicant:
Inventors: Patrick McCarthy (Hunting Valley, OH), Cyril Schweich (St. Paul, MN), Todd Mortier (Minneapolis, MN), Peter Keith (St. Paul, MN), Michael Kallok (New Brighton, MN)
Application Number: 11/316,341
International Classification: A61M 1/10 (20060101);
