Device and method for modifying the shape of a body organ

Abstract

An intravascular support device includes a support or reshaper wire, a proximal anchor and a distal anchor. The support wire engages a vessel wall to change the shape of tissue adjacent the vessel in which the intravascular support is placed. The anchors and support wire are designed such that the vessel in which the support is placed remains open and can be accessed by other devices if necessary. The device provides a minimal metal surface area to blood flowing within the vessel to limit the creation of thrombosis. The anchors can be locked in place to secure the support within the vessel.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A device for modifying the shape of tissue adjacent to a lumen, the device comprising: 
 an anchor adapted to be deployed by a catheter to engage the lumen;    a support extending from the anchor and adapted to engage the lumen; and    a recapture mechanism adapted to assist the recapture of at least a portion of the device into the catheter.    
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the anchor comprises a proximal portion, the recapture mechanism comprising a surface on the proximal portion of the anchor adapted to guide the catheter over the device.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the anchor is further adapted to expand after deployment from the catheter.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the recapture mechanism is adapted to assist in compression of the anchor.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the recapture mechanism comprises a first surface on the anchor and a second surface on the anchor, the slope of the first surface with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchor being less than the slope of the second surface with respect to the longitudinal axis of the anchor.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 3  wherein the anchor comprises first and second proximal arms, the recapture mechanism comprising a first surface and a second surface on at least one of the arms, the slope of first surface with respect to a longitudinal axis of the anchor being less than the slope of the second surface with respect to the longitudinal axis of the anchor.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the anchor is a first anchor, the device further comprising a second anchor, the support extending from the first anchor to the second anchor.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the first and second anchors each comprise a proximal portion, the recapture mechanism comprising a surface on the proximal portion of each anchor.  
     
     
         9 . A method of recapturing a device deployed in a lumen to modify the shape of tissue adjacent to the lumen, the method comprising: 
 holding the device in place within the lumen;    advancing a catheter distally within the lumen;    engaging a distal surface of the catheter with a recapture mechanism of the device; and    recapturing at least a portion of the device into the catheter.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the device comprises an anchor, the recapture mechanism being on the anchor, the recapturing step comprising moving the catheter distally to place the anchor inside the catheter.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the recapturing step comprises compressing the anchor.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the recapture mechanism comprises a surface on the anchor, the engaging step comprising engaging the distal surface of the catheter with the recapture surface on the anchor.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the recapture mechanism is a recapture surface on the device, the engaging step comprising engaging the distal surface of the catheter with the recapture surface on the device.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the device comprises first and second anchors, the recapture mechanism being on at least the first anchor, the recapturing step comprising moving the catheter distally to place the first and second anchors inside the catheter.  
     
     
         15 . An intravascular support comprising: 
 a proximal anchor that circumferentially engages a vessel wall in which the support is placed, the proximal anchor being disposed in a proximal anchor plane;    a distal anchor that circumferentially engages a vessel wall in which the support is placed, the distal anchor being offset in a distal anchor plane offset from the proximal anchor plane; and    a support wire extending between the proximal and distal anchors so that the support wire is urged against the vessel wall to compress tissue that is adjacent the vessel.    
     
     
         16 . The intravascular support of  claim 15  wherein the proximal anchor and the distal anchor each comprise a wire and a crimp connected to the wire.  
     
     
         17 . The intravascular support of  claim 16  wherein the proximal anchor and the distal anchor each comprise a plurality of wires.  
     
     
         18 . The intravascular support of  claim 17  wherein the crimp comprises a bore, the bore of the crimp having a non-circular shape adapted to accommodate and orient the wires.  
     
     
         19 . The intravascular support of  claim 18  wherein the bore is substantially square.