Mitral valve repair device

Abstract

Apparatus and methods are described for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve. A mitral annulus repair device is implanted within the subject's left atrium. The device includes a ring configured to be implanted within 15 mm of a native mitral annulus of the subject, and a frame extending upwardly from the ring, the frame being configured to anchor the mitral annulus repair device within the left atrium, prior to the tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device occurring, by the frame expanding against inner walls and a roof of the left atrium. The ring is adjustable in size and is configured to reduce a diameter of the subject's native mitral annulus by a diameter of the ring being reduced, subsequent to tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device having occurred. Other applications are also described.

1 . Apparatus for treating a subject with a diseased mitral valve, the apparatus comprising:
 a mitral annulus repair device configured to be implanted within a left atrium of the subject such that no portion of the mitral annulus repair device extends through the subject's mitral valve, the mitral annulus repair device being configured to generate ingrowth of the tissue of the subject to the mitral annulus repair device, the mitral annulus repair device comprising:
 a ring configured to be implanted within 15 mm of a native mitral annulus of the subject; and 
 a frame extending upwardly from the ring, the frame being configured to anchor the mitral annulus repair device within the left atrium, prior to the tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device occurring, by the frame expanding against inner walls and a roof of the left atrium, 
 the ring being adjustable in size and the ring being configured to reduce a diameter of the subject's native mitral annulus by a diameter of the ring being reduced, subsequent to tissue ingrowth to the mitral annulus repair device having occurred. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the mitral annulus repair device is configured, such that:
 there is not substantial tissue ingrowth with respect to the ring,   there is substantial ingrowth with respect to a first portion of the frame, and   the ring is configured to reduce the diameter of the mitral annulus by reducing a diameter of a second portion of the frame to which the ring is coupled, and the second portion of the frame causing the first portion of the frame to reduce the diameter of the mitral annulus.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a plurality of struts that define a plurality of cells, wherein the first portion of the frame extends from the ring until a height of at least 5 mm from the ring and the first portion of the frame is covered in a fabric skirt that is configured to encourage tissue ingrowth thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the cells defined by the struts define open areas of at least 3 square cm. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring is configured to be manually adjustable in size. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein the ring comprises a fabric hollow torus, with a string disposed therein, and the ring is configured to be manually adjustable in size by an operator pulling a portion of the string. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the ring is configured to automatically adjust its size. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein the ring comprises a fabric hollow torus, with a spring and a biodegradable material disposed therein such that the biodegradable material holds the spring in an expanded configuration, and wherein the ring is configured to be automatically adjustable in size by the biodegradable material becoming degraded, and radial forces of the spring exerting a radially inward force on the torus. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mitral annulus repair device is configured to be placed into the subject's left atrium, via an interatrial septum of the subject, by advancing the mitral annulus repair device in a lateral direction with respect to the left atrium, along a longitudinal axis of the frame; and   the ring is disposed laterally with respect to the frame, such that the ring is substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the mitral annulus repair device is configured to be deployed within the subject's left atrium, such that the longitudinal axis of the frame is substantially parallel to the subject's mitral annulus. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein within at least a portion of the frame, the struts of the frame are covered with fabric sleeves. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein at junctions between the struts that are covered with the fabric sleeves, adjacent fabric sleeves are stitched to each other. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the frame does not include additional anchoring portions for anchoring to any additional portions of the subject's body other than the walls and the roof of the left atrium.