Devices, systems and methods for reshaping a heart valve annulus

Abstract

Anchors for securing an implant within a body organ and/or reshaping a body organ are provided herein. Anchors are configured for deployment in a body lumen or vasculature of the patient that are curved or conformable to accommodate anatomy of the patient. Such anchors can include deformable or collapsible structures upon tensioning of a bridging element in a lateral direction, or segmented tubes that can be adjusted by tightening of one or more tethers extending therethrough. Such anchors can be used as a posterior anchor in a blood vessel in implant systems having a tensioned bridging element extending between the posterior anchor and an anterior anchor deployed at another location within or along the body organ. Methods of deploying such anchors and use of multiple anchors or multiple bridging elements to a single anchor are also provided.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An anchor for securing an implant within a body organ for reshaping of a body organ of a patient, the anchor comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body deformable or collapsible in a lateral direction and configured to be delivered and deployed in a body lumen or blood vessel of the patient; and   a substantially rigid backbone extending longitudinally along at least a portion of the cylindrical body, the substantially rigid backbone being disposed on or within the cylindrical body,   wherein the backbone includes an attachment region along an intermediate portion thereof for coupling with a bridging element of the implant,   wherein the cylindrical body is configured such that when the bridging element is coupled to the attachment region and tensioned while the anchor is disposed within the body lumen or blood vessel, the backbone deforms or collapses the cylindrical body.   
     
     
         2 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially cylindrical body is configured to engage 180 degrees or less of an inner wall of the body lumen or the blood vessel when laterally deformed or collapsed. 
     
     
         3 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the anchor is an intravascular anchor sized and dimensioned for delivery and deployment within the blood vessel of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the backbone is longitudinally curved so as to conform to anatomy of the patient. 
     
     
         5 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises a plastically compressible foam material so as to increase a contact surface of the cylindrical body against a wall of the blood vessel or the body organ. 
     
     
         6 . The anchor of  claim 1 , wherein the cylindrical body comprises an expandable scaffold having an expanded configuration in which the scaffold circumferentially engages the blood vessel and a laterally collapsed configuration in which scaffold collapses into a C-shape so as to engage at least a portion of one side of the blood vessel when the bridging element is tensioned. 
     
     
         7 . The anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the expandable scaffold further comprises a radially compressed configuration to facilitate intravascular delivery through the blood vessel. 
     
     
         8 . The anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the expandable scaffold comprises folding zones extending longitudinally on opposite sides of the scaffold and offset from the backbone so as to facilitate lateral collapse when a lateral force is applied to the backbone. 
     
     
         9 . The anchor of  claim 6 , wherein the expandable scaffold is a mesh cylinder, the mesh being adapted to facilitate in-growth of adjacent tissue. 
     
     
         10 . An anchor for securing an implant within a body lumen for reshaping of a body organ of a patient, the anchor comprising:
 an elongate main body configured to be transformed from a substantially linear configuration to a curvilinear configuration to accommodate an anatomy of the body organ, the elongate main body comprising a plurality of segments having an interior lumen extending therethrough; and   one or more tethers extending through an interior of the elongate main body that are engaged with opposite end portions of the elongate main body such that tensioning of the one or more tethers in a lateral direction draws the plurality of segments together thereby curving the main body in a direction along which the one or more tethers are tensioned.   
     
     
         11 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the elongate main body comprising a single hollow tube that is segmented by a plurality of kerfs distributed along a length of the single hollow tube. 
     
     
         12 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more tethers comprise first and second tethers coupled with opposite ends of the main body, respectively, and exiting through one or more openings in a center portion of the main body such that the main body assumes a curved shape when the ends of the main body are forced inward by tensioning of the first and second tethers. 
     
     
         13 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more tethers comprise a single tether extending directly from one end of the main body and secured to the other end of the main body by a fastener, the tether shortened to a length at which the main body assumes a desired radius of curvature for deployment. 
     
     
         14 . The anchor of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more tethers comprises a tether that extends through an interior lumen of the main body and exits from opposite end portions of the main body for attachment to another anchor, either directly or through a bridging element, such that the tensioning of the tether draws the opposite end portions together thereby curving the main body. 
     
     
         15 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the main body comprises a plurality of independent segments having interfacing ends that are angled to facilitate curvature of the main body when the one or more tethers are tensioned. 
     
     
         16 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segments comprises a plurality of hollow tubular segments. 
     
     
         17 . The anchor of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of segments comprises a string of interfacing elements, each element being formed of any suitable material and shape. 
     
     
         18 . An implant system for treating a human heart valve, the system comprising:
 an anterior anchor configured to positioned within a location along or within the human heart;   a posterior anchor comprising:
 a substantially cylindrical body deformable or collapsible in a lateral direction and configured to be delivered and deployed in a blood vessel of the human heart, and 
 a substantially rigid backbone disposed on or within the cylindrical body and configured to deform or collapse the cylindrical body when tensioned; and 
 a bridging element adapted to span a chamber of the human heart between the anterior anchor and the posterior anchor and maintain sufficient tension therebetween so as to provide a spacing between the anterior anchor and the posterior anchor thereby reshaping the chamber of the human heart. 
   
     
     
         19 . The implant system of  claim 18 , wherein the substantially cylindrical body is configured to engage 180 degrees or less of an inner wall of the blood vessel when laterally deformed or collapsed. 
     
     
         20 . The implant system of  claim 18 , wherein the backbone is longitudinally curved so as to conform to anatomy of the blood vessel.