IP Library › Granted Patent US 12661227
Granted Patent B2
US 12661227 · App. 18/094,449 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Annuloplasty device

Inventors: Olli Keranen (Bjarred, SE); Hans-Reinhard Zerkowski (Kreuzlingen, CH); Johannes Jung (Pforzheim, DE)
A61F2/2445A61F2/2442A61F2/2466A61F2210/0004A61F2210/0019A61F2210/009A61F2230/0091A61F2250/0031
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12661227
App. No.
18/094,449
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method of repairing a defective heart valve involves positioning first and second support rings of an annuloplasty device in a first configuration on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets and activating a contracted state of the annuloplasty device so that a first pitch distance between the first and second support rings in the first configuration is reduced to a second pitch distance that is shorter than the first pitch distance to move the first and second support rings toward each other to pinch the native heart valve leaflets.

Claims (9)

1 . A method of repairing a defective heart valve, said method comprising:

positioning a first support ring and second support ring of an annuloplasty device in a first configuration as a coil on opposite sides of native heart valve leaflets of the heart valve, wherein the first and/or second support rings comprises a shape-memory material and has a first pitch distance between the first and second support rings in the first configuration and a second pitch distance being shorter than the first pitch distance in a contracted state;

maintaining a separation between the first and second support rings at the first pitch distance with a removable restraining unit engaged with, and extending along, the first and second support rings, when positioning the coil on the opposite sides of the native heart valve leaflets, whereby the restraining unit forces the first and second support rings apart; and

removing the restraining unit so that the first and second support rings transfer from the first configuration to the contracted state corresponding to a relaxed heat set shape, said contracted state having a reduced gap between the first and second support rings, to pinch the native heart valve leaflets.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the restraining unit is attached to an exterior of the first and second support rings.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the restraining unit is arranged in an interior of the first and second support rings.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second support rings are kept at a defined temperature while arranged in a delivery catheter.

5 . The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second support rings are ejected from the delivery catheter so that an activation temperature is reached and the first and second support rings are compressed towards each other.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second support rings are advanced in a catheter in an elongated delivery configuration, and wherein the first and second support rings have an implanted shape in said contracted state.