Device and a Method for Improving the Function of a Heart Valve

Abstract

A medical device is disclosed that reinforces weakened or degenerated areas of at least a portion of a leaflet (24) Of the heart valve. Function of a heart valve is thus improved. The medical device comprises at least a first partly flexible leaflet reinforcement patch (30) having an extension between an inner section (34) and an outer section (32), wherein said outer section (32) is configured to be oriented towards said annulus, and said inner section (34) is configured to be oriented towards said inner section of said valve tissue, and at least a portion of said inner section (34) of said flexible leaflet reinforcement patch (32) having at least one of said plurality of leaflets (24) in juxtaposition to said portion of said inner section (34), and said portion of said inner section (34) being positioned to provide reinforcement to said plurality of leaflets (24).

1 - 12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for improving the function of a heart valve comprising an annulus and a plurality of leaflets, the method comprising:
 placing a flexible leaflet reinforcement patch, having an extension between an inner section and an outer section thereof, to orient the outer section towards the annulus and to orient the inner section towards the leaflets,   placing at least a portion of at least one of said plurality of leaflets in juxtaposition with a portion of the inner section so that the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch provides reinforcement to at least one of the plurality of leaflets, wherein the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch is flexible to follow the movement of the leaflets;   attaching a first end of a string to the inner section; and   connecting a second end of said string to chordae or a papillary muscle within a left ventricle.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the string is a chordae replacement unit. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein placing the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch comprises placing a tissue anchoring unit in abutment with the annulus, and wherein the outer section of the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch is attached to the tissue anchoring unit. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the tissue anchoring unit is connected to said outer section such that the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch extends from an inner periphery of the tissue anchoring unit towards a center of the heart valve. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch extends from the tissue anchoring unit at least partly to a free edge of said at least one leaflet. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 17 , wherein the first end of the string is attached to the inner section so that the first end is positioned towards said free edge. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the string is connected transversally through the leaflet to the inner section. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the string is attached to the inner section so that the string is positioned on the leaflet between a free edge of said at least one leaflet and the inner section. 
     
     
         21 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising attaching a plurality of strings between the inner section and the chordae or a papillary muscle. 
     
     
         22 . The method according to  claim 19 , comprising:
 attaching a first string transversally through the leaflet to the inner section, and   attaching a second string to the inner section so that the second string is positioned on the leaflet, between a free edge of said at least one leaflet and the inner section.   
     
     
         23 . The method according to  claim 20 , comprising:
 attaching a first string transversally through the leaflet to the inner section, and   attaching a second string to the inner section so that the second string is positioned on the leaflet, between a free edge of said at least one leaflet and the inner section.   
     
     
         24 . The method according to  claim 21 , comprising:
 attaching a first string transversally through the leaflet to the inner section, and   attaching a second string to the inner section so that the second string is positioned on the leaflet, between a free edge of said at least one leaflet and the inner section.   
     
     
         25 . The method according to  claim 21 , comprising attaching a first string to the inner section and chordae, and attaching a second string to the inner section and to a papillary muscle. 
     
     
         26 . The method according to  claim 13 , comprising replacing a plurality of chordae with said string or a plurality of strings. 
     
     
         27 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the tissue anchoring unit is a loop-shaped support surrounding the inner and outer sections of the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch. 
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the tissue anchoring unit provides an abutment against the whole extension of the annulus. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the string is made of a biocompatible material. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein the string is made of artificial and/or biological material. 
     
     
         31 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch is thinner than the extension of the flexible leaflet reinforcement patch. 
     
     
         32 . The method according to  claim 13 , wherein a thickness of the flexible leaflet reinforcement is at least partly non-uniform.