Methods and systems for annuloplasty alignment

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to methods, systems, subsystems, and kits for aligning an annuloplasty ring or a toroidal portion thereof with a natural fiducial in an annular target.

1 . An annuloplasty ring system comprising:
 an annuloplasty ring having an outer hollow tube thereof with a plurality of segments, operable to change the outer hollow tube from an insertion configuration to an operable configuration;   an alignment member, releasably coupled to the outer hollow tube via at least one coupling assembly, the at least one coupling assembly configured to be aligned with the at least one natural fiducial;   a fin defining a longitudinal axis, transversely coupled to the outer hollow tube, having an arcuate apical surface abutting the outer hollow tube, and a fin body extending basally from the arcuate apical surface, defining a pair of drill holes, each drill hole sized and configured to accommodate a release cord; and   a brace, having an apical end defining a pair of flanged protrusions extending apically, wherein flanges extend laterally from each flanged protrusion, with a gap between the flanged protrusions, the gap having a width sized and configured to accommodate a width of the fin body, and a basal end defining an aperture in parallel with the longitudinal axis of the fin,   wherein the fin is sandwiched between the pair of flanged protrusions.   
     
     
         2 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 1 , wherein the alignment member comprises at least one stylet, each stylet of the at least one stylet having a distal eyelet, releasably coupled to the outer hollow tube via the least one coupling assembly, wherein the at least one coupling assembly is coupled to the alignment member in the eyelet. 
     
     
         3 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 2 , wherein the aperture of the basal end is sized and configured to receive and accommodate the distal eyelet portion of each stylet. 
     
     
         4 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 2 , wherein the fin is secured between the pair of flanged protrusions via a pair of release cords looped through a corresponding drill hole of the pair of drill holes defined in the fin body. 
     
     
         5 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of release cords are configured to releasably couple to the brace to the fin. 
     
     
         6 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 1 , further comprising a delivery catheter adapted, sized, and configured to accommodate the alignment member and the annuloplasty ring in the insertion configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty ring is elongated in the insertion configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 1 , wherein the annuloplasty ring comprises an annular geometry in the operable configuration. 
     
     
         9 . An annuloplasty ring system comprising:
 an annuloplasty ring having an outer hollow tube thereof with a plurality of segments, operable to change the outer hollow tube from an insertion configuration to an operable configuration;   an alignment member, releasably coupled to the outer hollow tube via at least one coupling assembly, the at least one coupling assembly configured to be aligned with the at least one natural fiducial;   a fin defining a longitudinal axis, transversely coupled to the outer hollow tube, having an arcuate apical surface abutting the outer hollow tube, and a fin body extending basally from the arcuate apical surface, defining a drill holes sized and configured to accommodate a release cord; and   a brace comprising an apical end defining a first aperture to receive the release cord and a basal end defining second aperture to receive a stylet of the alignment member,   wherein the fin is sandwiched between components of the brace.   
     
     
         10 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 9 , wherein the alignment member comprises at least one stylet releasably coupled to the outer hollow tube via the least one coupling assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 10 , wherein the brace comprises a pair of plates, each plate comprising an apical end defining a first aperture to receive the release cord and a basal end defining a second aperture to receive one of the at least one stylet of the alignment member. 
     
     
         12 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 11 , wherein the fin is sandwiched between the pair of plates of the brace. 
     
     
         13 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 12 , wherein each plate further comprises at least one recess sized and configured to accommodate a bridging rod. 
     
     
         14 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 13 , further comprising at least one bridging rod that extends from a recess in a first plate of the pair of plates to a recess in a second plate of the pair of plates to couple the first plate to the second plate. 
     
     
         15 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 9 , wherein an apical end of the brace defines a pair of protrusions extending apically with a gap between the pair of protrusions, the gap having a width sized and configured to accommodate a width of the fin body. 
     
     
         16 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 15 , wherein the fin is sandwiched between the pair of protrusions. 
     
     
         17 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 15 , wherein an apical end of each protrusion of the pair of protrusions defining a first aperture to receive the release cord. 
     
     
         18 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 9 , wherein an apical end of the brace defines a pair of flanged protrusions extending apically, wherein flanges extend laterally from each flanged protrusion, with a gap between the flanged protrusions, the gap having a width sized and configured to accommodate a width of the fin body. 
     
     
         19 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 18 , wherein the fin is sandwiched between the pair of flanged protrusions. 
     
     
         20 . The annuloplasty ring system of  claim 18 , wherein an apical end of each flanged protrusion of the pair of flanged protrusions define a first aperture to receive the release cord.