U.S. patent application number 17/411489 was filed with the patent office on 2022-03-17 for transseptal delivery system for aortic valve therapeutic devices.
This patent application is currently assigned to Synecor LLC. The applicant listed for this patent is Synecor LLC. Invention is credited to William L. Athas, Kevin W. Johnson, Richard S Stack.
Application Number | 20220079571 17/411489 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005990274 |
Filed Date | 2022-03-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220079571 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Stack; Richard S ; et
al. |
March 17, 2022 |
Transseptal Delivery System for Aortic Valve Therapeutic
Devices
Abstract
A system and method used to deliver an aortic valve therapeutic
device, such as a delivery device for an aortic valve replacement,
to an aortic valve site. The system includes a cable percutaneously
introduced a cable into a vasculature of a patient and positioned
to run from a femoral vein, through the heart via a transseptal
puncture, and to a femoral artery. The therapeutic device is passed
over an end of the cable at the venous side and is secured to the
cable. The therapeutic device is pushed in a distal direction while
the second end of the cable is pulled in the proximal direction to
advance the therapeutic device to the mitral valve site. A left
ventricle redirector aids in orienting the therapeutic device and
preventing migration of the cable towards delicate mitral valve
structures and chordae tendoneae during advancement of the
therapeutic device.
Inventors: |
Stack; Richard S; (Chapel
Hill, NC) ; Athas; William L.; (Chapel Hill, NC)
; Johnson; Kevin W.; (Durham, NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Synecor LLC |
Durham |
NC |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
Synecor LLC
Durham
NC
|
Family ID: |
1000005990274 |
Appl. No.: |
17/411489 |
Filed: |
August 25, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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16365601 |
Mar 26, 2019 |
11129603 |
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17411489 |
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PCT/US2017/062913 |
Nov 22, 2017 |
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16365601 |
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PCT/US2018/045445 |
Aug 6, 2018 |
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PCT/US2017/062913 |
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62647894 |
Mar 26, 2018 |
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62541761 |
Aug 6, 2017 |
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62567736 |
Oct 3, 2017 |
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62541771 |
Aug 6, 2017 |
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62647894 |
Mar 26, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F 2/2427 20130101;
A61B 2017/00243 20130101; A61B 2017/00323 20130101; A61B 17/00234
20130101; A61B 2017/00358 20130101; A61M 25/0125 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A61B 17/00 20060101
A61B017/00; A61F 2/24 20060101 A61F002/24; A61M 25/01 20060101
A61M025/01 |
Claims
1. A system for of delivering an aortic valve therapeutic device to
an aortic valve site, comprising: a cable proportioned for
introduction into a vasculature of a patient and for positioning in
the vasculature to run from a femoral vein, through a heart via a
transseptal puncture, and to a femoral artery such that the
positioned cable has a first end external to the patient at the
femoral vein and a second end external to the patient at the
femoral artery; an aortic valve delivery device with an aortic
valve replacement device thereon, the aortic valve delivery device
removably attachable to the first end of the cable and including a
distal nose; a left ventricle redirector (LVR) having a tubular
lumen, the lumen at the distal end advanceable over the second end
of the cable at the femoral artery and advanceable though an aorta
and aortic valve to a left ventricle, wherein the distal nose of
the aortic valve delivery device is engageable with the distal end
of the LVR, and wherein the distal end of the LVR is actively
steerable within the heart when engaged with the aortic valve
therapeutic device to actively change an orientation of the aortic
valve delivery system within the heart.
2. The system of claim 1, further including a tubular connector
having a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal nose of
the aortic valve delivery device is engageable with the proximal
end of the tubular connector and the distal end of the tubular
connector is engageable with the distal end of the LVR.
3. The system of claim 1, further including a right-to-left conduit
(RLC) insertable from the femoral vein into an inferior vena cava
into a right atrium, through an interatrial septum into a left
atrium, through a mitral valve to a left ventricle, and through an
aortic valve into an aorta, wherein the second end of the cable is
insertable into the RLC at the femoral vein and advanceable through
the RLC and out a distal end of the RLC.
4. The system of claim 3, further including: a balloon catheter
having an expandable balloon, the balloon catheter introducible
into in the right atrium, insertable through the interatrial septum
into the left atrium, and inflatable within the left atrium such
that the balloon catheter is carried by blood flow into and through
the aorta to the femoral artery, wherein the RLC is introduceable
over a proximal end of the balloon catheter and advanceable to
position a distal end of the RLC in the left femoral artery,
wherein the second end of the cable is introduceable into the RLC
at the femoral vein and advanceable to the distal end of the RLC;
and a snare for capturing the second end of the cable via the
femoral artery and positioning the second end external to the body.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser.
No. 16/365,601, filed Mar. 26, 2019, which claims the benefit of US
Provisional Application U.S. 62/647,894, filed Mar. 26, 2018, and
which is a continuation in part of PCT/US17/62913, filed Nov. 22,
2017. U.S. application Ser. No. 16/365,601 is also a continuation
in part of PCT/US18/045445, filed 6 Aug. 2018, which claims the
benefit of US Provisional Applications U.S. 62/541,761, filed Aug.
6, 2017, U.S. 62/541,771, filed Aug. 6, 2017, U.S. 62/567,736,
filed Oct. 3, 2017, and U.S. 62/647,894, filed Mar. 26, 2018. Each
of these applications is fully incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND
[0002] A system that is used for transeptally driving mitral valve
therapeutic devices into place is described in Applicant's
co-pending PCT Application No. PCT/US17/62913 (Ref: ATR-820). A
modified version of that system and method are described herein for
use in implanting an aortic valve therapeutic device, such as an
aortic valve replacement device or a device for repairing an aortic
valve. The method described below and illustrated in the attached
drawings differs from that described in PCT/US17/62913 primarily in
that the aortic valve therapeutic device, once positioned in the
left ventricle, is then advanced to the native aortic valve
location.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0003] FIG. 1A is a side elevation view of a Right-to-Left conduit
("RLC") assembled with a Brockenbrough needle and dilator.
[0004] FIG. 1B is a side elevation view of the RLC of FIG. 1A
assembled with a tracker balloon catheter.
[0005] FIG. 1C is a side elevation view of the RLC of FIG. 1A
assembled with a Left Ventricle Redirector ("LVR").
[0006] FIG. 2A is a side elevation view of the LVR with the distal
end in the curved position to deploy the protective panel.
[0007] FIG. 2B is a side elevation view of the LVR with the distal
end in the straight position.
[0008] FIG. 2C is a cross-section view of the shaft of the LVR
taken along the plane designated 2C-2C in FIG. 2B.
[0009] FIG. 3A is an elevation view of the cable.
[0010] FIG. 3B is an elevation view of the tensioner.
[0011] FIG. 3C shows an assembly of the cable, tensioner, MVTD and
a cable lock.
[0012] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate transseptal passage of an RLC to the
left atrium. More particularly, FIG. 4A schematically illustrates a
section of the heart and shows the step of transseptal
catheterization from the right atrium into the left atrium, using a
Brockenbrough needle assembly through the RLC, and FIG. 4B shows
the tip of the RLC in the left atrium following removal of the
needle assembly;
[0013] FIG. 5 shows introduction of the tracker balloon into the
left atrium.
[0014] FIG. 6 shows inflation of the tracker balloon.
[0015] FIGS. 7-12 are schematic depicting the tracker balloon being
carried by the flow of blood from the left atrium, into and through
the aorta, to the femoral artery.
[0016] FIGS. 13-14 shows advancement of the RLC over the tracker
balloon shaft and withdrawal of the balloon catheter from the
RLC.
[0017] FIG. 15 shows the cable advanced through the RLC with its
ball tip exposed from the end of the RLC.
[0018] FIGS. 16-21B illustrate snaring of the ball tip of the cable
in the left femoral artery after the cable been passed through the
RLC.
[0019] FIG. 22A illustrates the step of advancing the LVR over the
cable and the locking of the LVR to the cable;
[0020] FIG. 22B illustrates the advancement of the LVR;
[0021] FIGS. 23-25B also illustrate the steps of advancing the LVR
over the cable and the advancement of the LVR. Note that as shown
in these drawings, a tapered dilator may be used in this step in
advance of the LVR. As shown in FIG. 23, the dilator may be
advanced over the cable and have its tapered tip inserted into the
RLC. Then, as shown in FIG. 24, the LVR may be advanced over the
dilator to the RLC.
[0022] FIG. 26 shows the LVR moved into the left ventricle.
[0023] FIG. 27 is similar to FIG. 26 and also shows the RLC
beginning to be removed.
[0024] FIGS. 28A through 29C show a TAVR system being advanced over
the cable from the venous side. More particularly, FIGS. 28A and
28B show the TAVR system advancing through the inferior vena cava,
and FIGS. 29A through 29C show the TAVR system passing through the
right atrium to the septum.
[0025] FIGS. 30 and 31 show the TAVR system being advanced across
the septum into the left atrium towards the mitral valve ring.
[0026] FIG. 32 shows the LVR in the left ventricle as the TAVR
system is advanced into contact with the LVR. Note that the LVR may
be provided without the membrane of the LVR.
[0027] FIG. 33 shows the LVR deployed and further shows the TAVR
delivery system, which is in contact with the LVR, positioned at
the mitral valve as the TAVR delivery system is being centered
within the valve.
[0028] FIG. 34 shows the TAVR delivery system in the left ventricle
moving towards the aortic valve, the LVR has been moved out of the
deployed position and is passing through the aortic valve while
remaining in contact with the LVR.
[0029] FIG. 35 shows the TAVR device advanced through the aortic
valve site while remaining in contact with the open end of the
LVR.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] A system and method are described herein for use in moving
an aortic valve therapeutic device ("AVTD") into position for
treating an aortic valve. The presently disclosed system is
designed to aid in the delivery of an AVTD to an aortic valve
location. The terms "aortic valve therapeutic device" or "AVTD"
used here refer to any device that may be delivered to the native
aortic valve site for a therapeutic purpose. In the description
that follows, the AVTD is shown as an aortic valve delivery system
carrying a replacement aortic valve for a TAVR procedure, but it
should be understood that the system and method described may be
used to deliver other types of AVTD's such as those used to repair
an aortic valve.
[0031] As will be appreciated from a review of the more detailed
discussion that follows, the cable system functions to both push
the proximal end of the AVTD while simultaneously pulling on the
distal nose of it with equal and coordinated force to drive the
AVTD across the interatrial septum. Pulling down further on the
distal nose of the AVTD using the cable provides a steering force
that serves to direct the stiff, bulky AVTD into position across
the interatrial septum, and into the left atrium. The AVTD is
further advanced through the center of the mitral valve at an angle
that is perpendicular to the MV plane by use of a steering
mechanism present in a unique device referred to as the LV
redirector (described in detail below). From the left ventricle,
the AVTD are moved, while remaining in contact with one another,
towards the native aortic valve site until the AVTD is positioned
at that site.
[0032] In the description of system and method below, the access
points for the components of the system are described as the right
femoral vein for the venous access and the left femoral artery for
the arterial access. However, the system and method can just as
readily be used with a different combination of venous and arterial
access. For example, venous access may be gained via the right
femoral vein and arterial access may be gained via the right
femoral artery. Alternatively, both access points may be on the
left side. In yet another embodiment, venous access is gained via
the left femoral vein and arterial access is gained via the right
femoral artery.
[0033] System
[0034] Referring to FIG. 1A, the system includes a Right-to-Left
conduit 10 ("RLC"), an elongate tubular catheter having a length
sufficient to permit it to extend from the right femoral vein of a
human adult to the right atrium, across the interatrial septum to
the left atrium, through the aorta and into the femoral artery on
the patient's left or right side. The RLC 10 includes a distal
portion shape set into a curved configuration to help orient the
needle used for transseptal puncture towards the interatrial
septum. In alternative embodiments the RLC may be steerable using
pullwires or alternative means. The durometer of the RLC is
relatively low (eg 55D) as known in the art for cardiovascular
catheters so as to minimize tissue trauma, although a significant
length on the proximal part of the catheter is formed of a higher
durometer (e.g. 70D) to give the conduit sufficient column strength
to avoid buckling when used to push during advancement of the LVR
as described below. This higher durometer section may be the part
of the conduit that, when the conduit fully extends between the
right femoral vein and right or left femoral artery, begins at or
near the proximal end of the conduit and terminates within the
inferior vena, and may be as much as a third of the length of the
RLC. In FIG. 1A, the RLC 10 is shown assembled with a Brockenbrough
needle assembly 12 and dilator 14 for use in the transeptal
catheterization step of the method.
[0035] The system further includes a tracker balloon catheter 16,
shown extending through the RLC 10 in FIG. 1B, comprising an
inflatable balloon on the distal end of the catheter. The balloon
catheter 16 includes a guidewire lumen. The balloon may be inflated
with a fluid or gas, including CO2 or saline, or it may be a
self-expanding "vacuum balloon."
[0036] In FIG. 1C, the RLC 10 is shown assembled with a conveyor
cable 18 and a left ventricle redirector or "LVR" 26. Details of
the LVR can be seen in FIGS. 2A-2C. The LVR includes an elongate
catheter shaft 28 having a proximal handle 32 with a luer port 40.
As shown in the cross-section view of FIG. 2C. The shaft includes a
lumen 29 accessible via the port 40. This lumen extends to the
distal tip of the shaft. Incorporated within the wall of the LVR
shaft are a pullwire 26 and a return wire 38. The pullwire exits
the sidewall of the shaft 28 near the shaft's distal end, runs
along the exterior of the shaft, and is affixed to the distal end
of the shaft. Increasing tension on the pullwire 26 pulls the
distal end of the shaft into a curve as shown in FIG. 2A. The
handle 32 includes actuators to actuate the pull wire to bend the
shaft and to actuate the return wire to return the distal end of
the shaft to the generally straight configuration (as in FIG. 2B).
The return wire 38 may have a rectangular diameter as shown, with
the long edges oriented to aid in preferential bending of the
catheter.
[0037] A membrane 30 is positioned along a portion of the distal
part of the shaft and along the external portion of the pullwire
26. When the pullwire is relaxed and the shaft is in the straight
configuration, the panel and pull wire run along the distal part of
the shaft. The membrane forms the D-shaped barrier shown in FIG. 2A
when the distal end is drawn into the curved configuration by
action of the pullwire. The barrier forms a protective panel
extending between the external part of the pullwire and the shaft
28, substantially eliminating gaps between the two. The panel may
be made of an elastomeric polymer or other material.
[0038] Note that the term "pullwire" is not intended to mean that
the pullwires must be formed of wire, as that term is used more
broadly in this application to represent any sort of tendon, cable,
or other elongate element the tension on which may be adjusted to
change the shape of the LVR or other catheter in which the pullwire
is used.
[0039] The conveyor cable 18, shown in FIG. 3A comprises an
elongate cable having distal cable section 17a having a broadened
distal tip 20 such as the ball tip feature shown in the drawings.
The tip 20 may include a distal face having convex curvature and a
cylindrical proximal part with a generally flat proximal face to
facilitate engagement using a snare. A larger diameter intermediate
section 17b is proximal to the distal section 17a and includes a
polymer coating. A proximal section 19 comprises a stiff mandrel
proximal to the intermediate section 17a. The proximal section is
sufficiently stiff to give column support for pushing of the cable
during the RLC removal discussed below. A radiopaque marker band 21
is positioned between the proximal mandrel section 19 and the
intermediate section 17b. When the cable 18 is assembled with the
segmental tensioner 22 (discussed below), the soft distal tip of
the segmental tensioner mates with the marker band 21, allowing the
user to see on the fluoroscopic image the transition between the
segmental tensioner and the intermediate (coated) section 17b of
the cable.
[0040] Segmental tensioner 22, shown in FIG. 3B, is a short length
(e.g. 30-35 mm) tubular component having a flexible tip section
(e.g. 40D) and a more rigid (e.g. 70D) proximal hub section of
broader diameter. The inner diameter of the hub section is
proportioned to receive the distal tip of the AVTD. The segmental
tensioner incorporates a deadstop within the shaft inner diameter
to engage the polymer coated intermediate section 17b of the
conveyor cable and to lock the AVTD 46 in position, preventing it
from advancing independently of the conveyor cable as it is moved
towards the mitral valve.
[0041] Method
[0042] As an initial step, the Right-Left Catheter (RLC) 10 is
introduced using the well-known technique of transseptal
catheterization from the right atrium (RA) into the left atrium
(LA), such as by using a Brockenbrough needle assembly 12 through
the RLC, which is positioned in the right femoral vein (RFV) as
shown in FIG. 1. Once the distal end of the RLC is disposed in the
left atrium (FIG. 4B), the needle is withdrawn and the tracker
balloon catheter 16 is passed through the RLC into the left atrium.
See FIGS. 5 and 6. The balloon may have a concave proximal face to
increase the surface area of the balloon in the upstream direction.
Once deployed within the left atrium, the flow of blood carries the
tracker balloon into and through the mitral valve (MV) (FIG. 7),
left ventricle (LV) (FIGS. 8 and 9), aortic valve (AV) and aorta
(A) FIGS. 10 and 11 to the femoral artery (FIG. 12). This
description describes left side access to the arterial vasculature,
but in alternative methods the tracker balloon catheter may be
diverted to the right femoral artery (RFA). The RLC is then
advanced over the tracker balloon catheter towards the left or
right femoral artery. FIGS. 13 and 14.
[0043] The tracker balloon catheter 16 is deflated (FIG. 14) and
then withdrawn from the RLC 10, and the conveyor cable 18 is
inserted into the RLC on the patient's right ride and advanced.
This directs the tip of the cable into the left femoral artery.
FIG. 15. A snare 20 introduced into the left femoral artery grasps
the ball tip of the conveyor cable as shown in FIGS. 16-19, and
withdraws the ball tip out the femoral artery (FIG. 20).
[0044] The left ventricle redirector (LVR) is introduced over the
cable (FIG. 21). The lumen of the LVR slides over the ball tip and
shaft of the cable. The LVR is pushed towards the RLC while the RLC
is pushed towards the LVR, causing the LVR to advance its distal
end over the exterior surface of the RLC. This eliminates the
exposed section of cable between the LVR and RLC, and because the
conveyor cable is much more flexible than the LVR or RLC, this step
removes flexibility from the assembly now extending through the
vasculature and heart.
[0045] Alternatively, as shown in FIGS. 23-24, a tapered dilator 15
may be used in this step in advance of the LVR. As shown in FIG.
23, the dilator may be advanced over the cable and have its tapered
tip inserted into the RLC. Then, as shown in FIG. 24, the LVR may
be advanced over the dilator to the RLC.
[0046] A cable lock may be used to lock the proximal end of the LVR
onto the conveyor cable outside the access point to the femoral
artery so that the LVR and cable will move together. The user pulls
on the cable on the patient's venous side (the patient's right
which is the left side of the drawings). On the patient's arterial
side (the right side of the drawings), the user pushes the LVR.
FIG. 22B. Note that since the LVR is locked to the conveyor cable,
the actions of pulling the cable and pushing the LVR advance the
LVR into the aorta. FIGS. 22B, 25A and 25B. If the system is
configured such that the LVR slides over the RLC or remains engaged
with the RLC by the dilator or other means, this step is
accompanied by the pushing on the RLC from the venous side. Pushing
the RLC during advancement of the LVR pushes the loop of the LVR
into the apex of the LV, keeping it away from delicate valve
structures and chordae tendineae.
[0047] Once within the heart, the LVR is pushed strongly into the
apex of the left ventricle by a pushing force applied to its
proximal end. FIG. 26.
[0048] The RLC is next withdrawn from the venous side. The cable is
still in place as shown. The AVTD is connected to the cable. FIG.
28. A segmental tensioner and cable lock may be used in the manner
described in PCT/US17/62913.
[0049] Once the AVTD has entered the venous circulation it is
advanced toward the right atrium (FIGS. 29A and 29B), (optionally
led by the segmental tensioner 22), as the system is pulled by the
cable while the AVTD is simultaneously pushed along at the same
rate in a coordinated manner. The optional segmental tensioner
leads the way as it crosses the interatrial septum (FIG. 30) and
provides a gradual transition to the bigger and stiffer AVTD.
[0050] At this point, a significant pulling force is applied to the
AVTD/tensioner assembly by the cable. This force is slightly more
than the "push force" force on the AVTD so as to pull the distal
nose of the AVTD down and to the patient's left through the
interatrial septum. FIG. 32. Despite the pushing force of the LVR
into the apex, with ever increasing pull force, there is a strong
tendency to cause the loop of the cable contained in the steerable
section of the LVR to be pulled upward into the valve structures
above. This tendency is overcome by the synergistic downward
pushing force exerted by the segmental tensioner as it enters the
lumen at the distal end of the LVR in the LV apex. It ensures that
the cable is positioned away from the aortic and mitral valve
leaflets and chordae tendineae by maintaining the cable safely away
from the valve structures within the LVR's protective sleeve.
[0051] The pullwire of the LVR is activated, placing its protective
panel in the deployed position in the left ventricle. FIG. 33. In
addition to the importance of maintaining the cable loop in the
apex of the ventricle, another key function of the LVR is to aid in
the steering of the AVTD through the center of the mitral valve
ring at an angle that is perpendicular to the mitral valve ring
plane. Once through the mitral valve (FIGS. 33 and 34) and into the
left ventricle, the AVTD is further advanced to the aortic valve
location as shown in FIG. 35.
[0052] All patents and patent applications referred to herein,
including for purposes of priority, are fully incorporated herein
by reference.
* * * * *