DEVICE AND METHOD FOR TREATING ANNULAR ORGAN STRUCTURE
System and method for repairing an annular organ structure such as heart valve including valve leaflet, chordae tendinae, papillary muscles and the like. Provides a deployable structure in the form of a plurality of tissue-contactor members with integrated tissue-shrinkable energy-emitting elements. Said plurality of tissue-contactor members in a deployed state having a configuration of radially expanded middle region suitable for contacting the inner wall of an annular organ structure for effectively applying tissue-shrinkable energy site-specifically. May be deployed into the heart using a minimally invasive surgical procedure. Reshaping collagen-rich tissue through the emission or generation of heat or radiation, modifying the tissue through the process of denaturation. Configuration of deployable structures at distal section of system enables method of treatment of an annular organ structure without an interruption of flow of blood or bodily fluid through the valvular annulus.
1 . A device configured for shrinking a tissue of an annular organ structure of the body, wherein said device comprising:
An elongated catheter shaft defined with at least one lumen having a distal segment including a plurality of tubular tissue-connector members with an integrated energy-emitting elements and a proximal end attached to a handle and means for connecting to an energy source;
at least one temperature sensor at an energy-emitting element means adapted for measuring temperature of a inner wall of said annular organ structure;
said tissue contacting member having at least one energy-emitting element electrically coupled to said energy source; and,
at least one tubular member slidably disposed within said distal section for deploying said plurality of tissue-contactor members in a first configuration or a second configuration, wherein said second configuration is said plurality of tissue-contactor member are appropriately shaped to be positioned within or about annular structures within the body.