Method and apparatus for circulatory valve repair
View Patent ↗An apparatus for the repair of a cardiovascular valve has leaflets comprising a grasper capable of grabbing and co-apting the leaflets of the valve. In a preferred embodiment the grasper has jaws that grasp and immobilize the leaflets, and then a fastener is inserted to co-apt the leaflets. The apparatus is particularly useful for repairing mitral valves to cure mitral regurgitation.
1. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, said method comprising the steps of:
(a) grasping two leaflets of a cardiac valve, wherein the patient's heart is not stopped; and
(b) fastening the leaflets together in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.
2. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the patient suffers from insufficiency and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.
3. A method as in claim 1 , wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.
4. A method as in claim 1 , wherein grasping comprises immobilizing the leaflets.
5. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, said method comprising:
(a) immobilizing two leaflets, wherein the patient's heart is not stopped; and
(b) fastening the leaflets together in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.
6. A method as in claim 5 , wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.
7. A method for repairing a cardiac valve having leaflets in a patient suffering from regurgitation or insufficiency, wherein the patient's heart is not stopped, said method comprising:
(a) grasping two leaflets in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency;
(b) assessing the correctness of the grasping to ensure that the regurgitation or insufficiency is resolved; and
(c) fastening the leaflets together in the position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.
8. A method as in claim 7 , further comprising releasing the two leaflets.
9. A method as in claim 8 , further comprising re-grasping the leaflets in a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency.
10. A method as in claim 7 , further comprising adjusting the position of the leaflets to a position intended to resolve the regurgitation or insufficiency once the leaflets are grasped.
11. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the patient suffers from regurgitation and the cardiac valve is a mitral valve.
12. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the step of assessing is performed using echocardiography.
13. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the step of assessing is performed using Doppler.
14. A method as in claim 7 , wherein the step of assessing is performed using transesophageal echocardiography (TEE).